n*^i*!^*  is.  :v. 


'.'i>-'^:„;/  itijiBsstssaastti 


FOR  THECENriSEL. 

\T\\z  fo'.li)  vin;^  r.tr.iy  was  wrote  .luJ  pr.blin^eJ  imT.e- 
»'i  \\e\i  aftef  tlie  ,»ic.iC  fire,  March  20,  1  ';6o,  anJ  is  now 
itf;mMilh:»l  as  a  ),)liciil)le  to  tlie  late  Coiifl-igratioii  J 

TME  uncertainty  of  Ivimao  life,  the   tranfitory    nature 
;riJ  contiiural  /icifikiKies  ol'lhis  jnef^tnt  Il.itcof  h-^\\\z 
:wul  of  all  ciijoymsus  and    poilVliiotis  in  it,   arc  truths  io 
well  known  to  every  ihoog'  tUil  pcrfun.and  have  lo  ofu  « 
V<ren  the  fu'ije^lf  of  .j.iuici;>u8  n'ritrrs  ii  all  ages,  that  the 
Jlro-i;;jft  iiivcntiori  (..'in  perhaps  fcarctfi;nd  any  thing  riovv 
»(>  (Jtfjf,  an.l  a  m">i*.ell  MiiTe  with  reluftance  uiidertakes 
iht  iiiCTic  :  Vet  f  «ch  is  the  fr.iilty  of  hirnan  nature,  tliat 
%.l)c:i  a  fuJJ^-t;  Cuaftrophe  fiirrbiii"..ls  ns  themmd  is  fint- 
tcreJ  3!)  1  vl.icoiicirted,  and  dws  nv)t  r^aJily  collefl  th.)fe  • 
rcfto('^ifris  fuiiablir   to  the  occafjon,    or  elie   by    Jiwing 
l»;*tM  ufid  Ut  \\'Zg\iSi  {\\z\^  refli<;Vii>ns,  froTi  a  conception 
t'lat  they  mnft  tieeUs  flo'.v  r.utnrally  tro.n  fnclV  calamities 
■v.  ih'nilj  pio.hKc  tliom,   the   rr.i:iJ  ihroujh.  tiifafc,  may 
•.'>t    im;Tie.'.i,ite;y    conceive   them    wlien  wrintv'O.     It    is 
'Til?,  ilvj  V'lfcc   of  nature    has   ahv^ays   hsen   the    fame, 
i;  roiti'iuHlly   fo'inuing,    and    ur.uerftood    by    oil  ;    yet 
Aranjs  to  fay,  u'hat  we  hear  l!ic  oftcncft,  we  attend  to 
the  li.iA.  a!id  wliat   %vc  are  fhc   rmft  certaia  of,  wa  give 
the  Icaft  heed  to  ;  but  there  a^e  tinnt;s  when  g')'>d  proti- 
i\e\\CQ  fenJs  a  lo  uler  fummons  by  th.'  flr-.inles  of  na;tiivff-- 1 
and  prj;!aim5  thofctruth';,  which  though  they  could  not  ^ 
opera:;-  hy  :he  iniportanci'.-  of  tiki;-  nature,  yet  tpay  force 
tlicir  Sifeiil  by  ro  1^111:5  the   palHons  ;  l)Ut  here  fraiky  a- 
tViia  takes, [Mace',   fiom  e.vtreme  thoujIitkHhcis,  tl.e  paf- 
fi:)n?  b.ing  rouz:d,  wc  n^Oi  on  to  confufuu:  and  error  ;  | 
1  -St  i)ilnts  c^rowmjixarclcfs  by  a  lon2;c3lnri,we  llesr  hy  the  I 
j:afl  tvf  paffim,   i.ifti.-id  of  the  conii[).irs  of  underftanding,  1 
I'.ccdiefi;  of  the  port  of  truth,  and  negiigent  of  tlmfe  du- 
ties !■)  v.'hicJ;  tlie  jiairi  )ns  were  only  dc-rigned  tt)  nrre  ti... 

To  point  foith  and  fmiiU  ivifc  thefe  tru'.li', has  been  the 
\v'dl  hmdlcd  fabjesfl  of  the  heft    writei<:  ;   t/ut    %^'hile  na-  ! 
t  irc  contin  jes  tu  hinj  -non,  and  t!ie  wifd.)i-n    of  lier  voice  I 
remains  in  any   iTie.ifu:e  ncgleded,   the  therre  cannot  be  I 
truly  cxha-.ift^d,  nor  the  rc;-)etltion  of  it  nei.Jlefs. 

I-ortliefe  en  is,  ihi_s  Elfiy  is  prefented  to  the  pnblic 
vi  ;w,  if  i[  ^TiU  uidor  the  ju  !j;rnent  of  ahJc  miiuls,  they 
will  ac(|uic:fce  in  any  truth,  and  at  ler-.f!  n.ny  Troii  hence  1 
t  ike  a  hint  for  nobler  thoughts';  bcfidc-;,  rhore  is  a  fat- 
i.fa.'Lioa  wcall  feel  in  pivuig  vent  to  the  tlirobbings  of 
l!iC  bofom,^nd  in  coUe^ing  to  fom?  ordVr.thofe  t,ho-:2hts 
\vlii«,h  float  through  the  mind  or-  fuch  occafiflns. 

I.-;t  this  then  he  the  apolor/  ;  »nit  if  fcifl  nr.y  one 
fh  )i:l.l  cenfure  m?  for  treading  in  this  unaccuftoin  3d  path 
cf  v.-.:ting,  I  mud  nuit  the  difpute  and  (zrQtin  mvfclf  be- 
/.c;ith  the  horrors  of  (iiat  never  to  be  forgotten  niglit,nhen 
I  1':  fi.im  ;^  bro'ce  loafe  en  our  hcufe-^,  and  laid  fo  large  a 
:>.»:  I  of  our  capital  in  rnins:  lam  fcnfible  that  p.aintcd 
t  M  r'.r-.  il!-Secf>TT;  re  i!  fornw,  and  are  never  to  be  ufed 
b.i:  wl-.ea  the  pafTnns  r.:-e  llog^ifh  ;  and  tlierePce  paf- 
frir  over  that  n-nple  fie' i  for  derrriptu.n,  which  the  late 
unh-ppy  cataflropheafTorls,  fnall  confine  myfelf  to  lljofe 
J  iSer  f.irts  whicli  no  body  (hould  be  iiriornnt  of,  and 
V.  .til  w.hich  every  b'jdy  nvift  n^cdi  he  afledtcd. 


It  \.v?.s  than  in  the  firft  vvatchis  of  the  morri'ng,  v  her. 
r.n'  hollies  were  fift  fit,tered    widi   foa;idv:ft  flcep,  that 
tiie  five  vva>  firil  difcovered,  and  the  town  r.l^rmeJ  with 
?.n  oiit-cry  ;  tlie  inlia')itjats  were  f peed i!y  colledled,  and 
though  the  lire  was  f;)u:id  in  the   cett.lr  of  a  hrick  houft^ 
yet  it   fo'jn    eat  through '.ts   jirifon;   the   wind    hlowirig 
frefli  iirg^d  on  the  frames,  and  with  furprlfinp  fury  they 
ravaged  in    fpite  of  all  oppofition   or  means  to  fopprefs 
iham  ;  the  cintkrs  and  burning  ruins  v.'cre  carried  to  the 
Icewardmoft   part  of  the  town,  by  means  of  which  fome  ' 
who  thought  t!iemfelves  in  no  daj.ger,  were  'lie   fooneft 
confumcd,  and  tlie  inliabitants  of  tliem  being  gatlicred  to 
flffi'^  at  the  held  of  the  fire,fufrered  the  greatefllofTcs  ?it 
thair  own  hDiifes  j   the  like  evil  happened  to  nuaihcis  of 
traJefmen,  whofe  fliops  werefo  quick  fi:el  foi'th'^  ftamcs, 
that  their  tools  and  ftock  were  nil  confumed  before  they 
could    repair   to  Them  ;  in  fome   pLiccs    we   heard   the  i 
jhrieks  of  mothers  and  children  rouzed  from  their  beds 
hy  the   furronnding  flimes,  and  no  man  to. help  ;   h'rre 
\\-£  might  behold  thff  aged,  the  fick  and  the  bed -rid,  whofc  I 
dlft-ancc  fyom  the  feat   of  th^-  fire  t^.ave  them  hopes  of  fe- 
c;:rity.,dri\'en  forth  re  the  inclemencies  of  the  wearher,not 
knowin;  where   to  fttelter;  there  we   miglit   fee  thofs 
whofe  !eart.tho-.7v:htS   were    placed  on   their  fubfi-ance, 
i\ni  whofe  greateft  anxiety  was  to  fave  their  Jives  :  T!ius 
laged  tUi?  fire,  forcKig  its  way  at  the  windows  of  brick 
hoafes,  whofe  fiat^d   roofs  were   thought  a  fuifirient  de- 
, fence,  thui  adding    burning   to   bunurig,    till   it  left    no 
building  nnconfamed  where  the  wind  would  let  it  paf*;. 
The  natural  horrors  of  the  night  added    terror   to  this 
cataftrophsj  and  at  once  rendered  it  more  difma!  to  the 
eye,  more  grevious  to   be  born,  and  more  difficult  to  be 
fuprelTed,  till  the   odious  nigl^.t  wore  out,   and  with   it 
ranifhsd  the   height  of  our  fciars  ;    but  )iot  f*  :iie  reality 
of  our  forrow,  t!ie   rifen   fun   aiTuaged  the  glo^m  of  the 
night,  but  gave  us  a   difmal   profj.cc'l   of  its  havock  ;  a 
fjTe»5lacle  (hocking  to  fenfibility  !    Like  the  blaftsd  trees 
of  fummer,  or  the  fkeleton  of  fome  deiightfai  body  ;   yer 
far  left  ungrateful  to  the    Aghttlian  forrowfal   to' be  re- 
f.jfced  on.     Take  a  furvey  tlien  of  tliefe  e::!ended  ruins  , 
here   once   lived    the  loyal  fubjecft-,    the  tender  father, 
the  obliging  friend,   awd  a  gc»d   commonwealths-man; 
hut  their  habitations,  as  with  one  fvveep  .of  a  fcytlie,  are 
s,lt  cut  off,  and    they   thrown   on  the  charity   o'f  their 
friends  :  And  is  this  all  ?  Alas  there aieflill  more  heain- 
j)i3rcing-fceries  ;  walk   througli   the   ruin?,  and  take  a 
n-.ore  particular  account ;   here  lived  the  laborious  tradef- 
ix\xn,  on  whofs  daily  iinluflry  depended  the  fuftenance 
of  ."i   i'lumsrous  family  ;  there  lived  one  whofe  ciicum- 
Itances  were  ftraitened  with  poverty,   and  diflrelled   by 
ficknels  :  here  'iresl  one  jnH  ci^zirr^ug  ui>iTi  indigence, 
aiid  reaplngthe  flrfl  fruits  of  honeft  indniTry  ;  tlierelivftd 
thofe  whofe  comfci  table  circumllances  affoided  a  refuge 
for  the  needy,  and  an  habitation  for  tiie  friendlefs  ;   htrc 
lived  th.^fe  whofe  fubfiftence  depended  on  thetr  frtuation  i 
for  bafuiefs  ;   rhere  lived  th.ofe  whofe  all  was  ip   their 
houfes,  ana  here  ihofe  who  are  ftill  unhappily  aauvera- 
'i->le  for  all  they  loll  ;  there   lived,  and  there  u'as  the  fub- 
ftftcnce  of  thtt  aged  and  infirm,  whofe  frugal  indufcry  in 
youth,  had  procured  them  the  m-^rited  fupport   of  eafy 
flic  age, whea  the  body  unftrang  for  labor  can  n.o  longer  fup- 
port itfelf^ — Bat  all  cut  off,  their  iiiduftry  appears  no  more, 
and  the  fatigaes  of  youth  overtakes  them,whcn  ags  fhould 
be  at  reft  ;   the  children  muft  b<jg,  and   tli^  ii:idufliious 
muft  be  dependent,  the  forehanded  repeat    his  toil  anew, 
and  the  debtor  lay  at    mercv  ;  the   friendlefs   mufl  feek 
for  otUer  patrons,  and  they  wlio  pitronizcd  imiilore  com- 
pafuoa  ;  the  affluent  a»ed   muft   forget  th?ir   eafe,  and 
too  foon    lofe  the   benefit   of  that   fabllancs  wliich  they 
vould  not  carry  hence. 


^  o  2  i:  -^  '-  -  ^  ^^  „  " 

-   rj  ^  ^    C   h^   >.  .^    n    =  2 


V    X 


O 


C 


^'^^^^ii 


n 


■E--X  5«   o—  ~5iC 

15  ?^  2-;^^--  E 


to 


o  o 

o  i-3 


^ 


■^  .i- 


t:  —  o   5   c 


rt     1^    —      ^         -r. 


\Vh*r*  iball  ll'.e  mifcr  b^aow  his  hoarAtebr  t!)c  ex-  I 

-ner  his  ill  go:ien  n'mF,  or  how  f.iall  Jfie  worUlIy  [ 

fccurc  his  h.'.-pincfs  uh-n  flames  IjitouihI  them  .'  j 

1  uf  c  viVmrs  of  firrak  u'liicli  v/e  beheld  a».ating  to 

;i  y  wf:c  at  oncecnil  1  n  a  iral  cf  our  polfemons  uud 

i::ive:jf  their  loft:  liut  uhatf-ty  thele  mighty  vu- 

tlicy  ihew  u:.  rt  how  unceitain  atsnure  weliol'l  our 

•ncnts,  fof  next  ur/Uer  a  fuvereign  pravdence  \ve 

.,  inJv!  t-*J  even  to  the  ftahility  «'f  the  wiml  that  it  Jid 

n»>l  \  ^Jy  :in<i  roll  the  C.imcs  over  l!ic  whole  town.  ^^  uh 

I.oiv  much  CAfc  then  c:\n  we  fhifj  tlie  ftene   ana  fuppofe 

nuilclvei  ill  the  hluatinn  of  t'le    prefent  difticned  ;  v.-.y. 

iloor  po>J.>cf.s   orvif,i;a-i(e    tin'.  protcacc>  us  ?   And  it 

bti.icdrarovcd,  wc  Diouhl  have  felt  for  row  ;  hems  lo 

narrouly  f.^vcd  citi  we  f.iil  to  roc't  with  fympaihy  ■'  an<i 

If  c  .-cr  t!ie  goMan  rule  was  c.ipahle  of  a  benevolent  apph- 

1  I'l:  mort  infcr.fiblc  mull  now  feci  it,  ar.d  tlie  n.olt 

■:jcJ  put  it  in  piafiice  ;  and  he  wiio  on  this  occa- 
,.  .,.  >o-rr.Dt  b.-ftow  hjuiu. fully  to  the  relief  of  tlie  inmie- 
di.^ic  fuffrrcis,  muft  eitherflattcr  himfelf  with  fomc  l>e- 
cclur  Jnf.ill.blc  protection,  or  being  Jefnerate  in 
gidJincfs,  bid  a  hold  dc/iaiicc  to  all  calamity.  Nor 
c»ri  ;.ny  one,  thour'.h  not  immediately  expofed  to  this 
deilrii-fiion,  nrrr.O'  Vljftant  frcm  this  capital,  farmifethat 
ihey  hive  no  pyt  in  its  general  admonition  j 'tis  natuie's 
voice,  iliat  uell  known  hctwldofthe  Al.mishty  which 
tlio'  It  h:  n<>w  utlcrr-J  here,  yet  echoes  every  uhcre  ;  'tis 
but  o-ie  1 1'h  of  that  amazinj  fcourgc,  \-,randifhed  hy  the 
hand  cf  vcngcaicf,  a^a'-rft '^  g^iil'y  uoild  ;  the  fame  fire 
m.\y  parch  uo  that  land  which  it  does  not  confumc,  aivl 
eaiili'pjake'j'make  iis  dcfolation  worfc  tli.-^n  tlie  prcfep.t; 
i(  thcicforc  wc  are  common  tenants  of  a  l^afs  variegate?! 
v  •''.  toy  and  furrow,  nerhiaks  'Vs  natural  wc  fhould  in 
:  meafurc  (hare  the  good  of  i:  ^vhi(.h  we  all  want, 
;;  wc  are  equ.xlly  expofed  to  the  evils  of  it,  under 
h  we  all  dcfiic  to  he  icUeyid. 

nr.y  U.^],  whnt  a  tlioufht  aiifcs  !   can    it  v/ith  truth  be" 

,    th<t  any    i'.i   !)um»ti  Oupc,    though  (heir  da'ly  fiipport 

robbery,  ihouid  hirk  for  thr  CDnfiiflonot  a  public  caiain- 

.  j:id  phindsr  the  prop-rty  of  t'le    clilli  tiled.;   or  that  any 

•  i3ol  dflibcration,  upon  whitlocver  pretence,   (hould  ci- 

,.-VUckly  or  priv-vt  ly  difcour.t^n.ince  tliat    relief  to   the 

■'Xei  \-hi:h  wc  rr.r;  all  ar  fo.Tic  time  want,and  which  hu- 

•y  fug;Ci\«;  ?  forMd  it  hcivm  !  .. 

?.-,,  wc  fojourn  ill  a  vile  of  tears,  forrow  on  every   fide 

—  indsus,    and  I  alls  fi»r   tlofe  duties   whi.h    wc  ftcl  im- 

'.d  10  out  natures,  duties  fy  cndeliably  crp.raven,   th  it  a 

,      '.'en  fail,  "  In  roihinir  do  we  mori  imrr.iMtc  the  irimor- 

!i    Crti',  than  in  doing  adts  of  l:j-dnefs,"  ths  voice  of  rcve- 

,   •  ^;i  IS  ftid  mere  explicit,  and  fo  plain,  that   Vc    who   nm? 

read.     PofTcfTions  take    to  ihemfelvcj   wines;    to  what 

• -'le  is  it   then,  thai  we  diilrrfs,  perplex  and  corrupt  our 

Is  in  fretting  r.caUh,  the   pofTifnon  of  which  is  fo  precs- 

^  >  With  what  f.icc  c«n  w:  fwell  w;lh  the  conceit  of  riches 

'.  .i'.l\inr.c  air"- of  importance,  difdain,   opprefx,  ::nd    lyrar.- 

-  over  ihMc  'ncpcaih  us  (perhaps  only)  in  fortune,  when   a 

i  our^  may  fct  us  -ill  on  a  level  ?  Hew  inucli  does  it  become 

•••hile  in  tfF.ucncc  to  demean  outfelvrs   with  li"  h  honefty, 

'-.iniiy  and  fccnehccnce,  at  thnt    if  calnmity    ihould  over- 

'   i::  v.,  v"e  may  Hand  ci^n'c^cdly  the  wortliy  objedts  of  nced- 

i  I'ul  relief?  Mcthinks  tltis  cnt^l^rophc  is  big  with  in(lri:(ftion, 

ro'jid  ary  •  ne  f:<  the  dire  havock   produced  from  fo  fmall    a 

fre.  «nd  not  feet  the  obh»aitoR?  wc  owe  to  the  community  in 

r '».  n-orr.y  of  this  ntc^jrary    but  devouring  elera-nt,  and  ot 

TTTj  thing    that  is  cpt  fuel  for  the  fat^e  ?  foras  our   pof- 

1-lVions  are  not  fecuied  by  o'jrowr  finele  carelu' nefiB,  the  duty 

tliTcfofc  Lec'omeii  cereral  j  and  m«Y  I  be  p'*rrnittcd  to  take  a 

1  i:  r  from  thi:  dreadhil    dcfoUfton,   and  point    it   forth  aj  an 

Bcr^Slcni  of  ihal  di!tri:clion,  which  the  paffi'.r.G  -.vhc*  \.l  Icofc 
pfod  :cc  in  bun-an  min»b  j  when  the  firft  er.cefs  is  tiot  (un. 
pnilcd,  like  the  litt  r  re  they  ravage, incre  i(c  hy  running, and 
\,\.\)  dettroy  every  t^  ig  vahjabic  in  the  mind  ;  .n^y  entirely 
n.  p  u:,  of  thit  real  t.  Mhirc  which  only  c;io  fVand  us  in  itead 
wl-.rn  a  preater  conflagration  (ball  fcire  this  earth,  when  wc 
fliml  be  as  htt'.c  anxi-i  is  lo  fave  our  lives,  s.s  many  Utcly 
were  to  tavc  their  worldly  {^circfTjoRS. 


^THKlnaiiMWIftail  llWIIIIlWil 


1 


Dr.  Mayhezv's 

TWO 

Thankfgiving-Dircourfes, 

OSioher  <^thy   1760. 


(0J 

TWO 

DISCOURSES 

Delivered  OSloher  gth,    1760. 

Being    the    Day  appointed    to    be    obferved 
As  a  Day  of  public 

"T H AN  KSGIFING 

For  the  Succefs  of  His  Majefly's  Arms, 

MORE      ESPECIALLY 

In   the  intire   Redudion  of 

CANADA. 

B    Y 

JONATHAN  MAYHETV,  D.  D. 

Paftor  of  the  Weft-Church  m  Bofton. 


Thou  art  my  Son Afl<  of  me,  and  I  will  give  thee  the 

Heathen   for  thine   inheritance,    and    the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  pofTeflion.  Pfalm  IL 


BOSTON: 

Printed  and  Sold  by  R.  Draper,  in  Ncwbury-Street  ;  Fdes 
and  Gill,  in  Quccn-Street ;  and  T.  and  J.  Fleet,  ia 
Cornhill.      1760. 

Sec 


Con fiderat ions  on  divine  Providence  in 
the  Succefs  and  Confequcnces  of  na- 
tional Wars ;  with  fome  fliort,  gene- 
ral Reflections  on  the  Succefs  of  His 
Majefty's  Arms  in  the  prefent  War. 

PSALM     XCVIII.    I,    2. 

O  Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  long,  for  he  hath 
done  marvellous  things  :  his  right  hand,  and  his 
holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  victory. 

The  Lord  hath  made  known  his  falvation  :  his 
righteoufnefs  hath  he  openly  fliewed  in  the 
fight  of  the  heathen. 

F'¥#)J("^HOEVER  has  been  much  converfant 
^\I\/$  in  the  holy  fcriptures,  has,  I  fuppofe, 
^;^    ▼  V  w  made   the    two   following   obfervations. 

)!0^%)¥jd  ^^^^  ^^^'  y^'^^^  ^^^  prophetic  writers, 
after  fpeaklng  of  fome  recent,  common 
events,  and  things  of  a  fccular  nature,  often  flide,  al- 
moft  imperceptibly,into  futurity  ;  or  into  the  mention 
of  thofe  things  that  pertain  to  the  kingdom  of  God 
under  the  reign  of  the  Mefllah.  So  that  while  a  per- 
ilm  thinks  he  is  reading  oniy  about  certain  ordinary 
occurrcnts,  and  expe(^s  to  meet  with  nothing  clfe,  he 
^nds  himfelf  fuddenly  carried  into  future  times  with 
A  3  th^ 


6  Confideratlons  on  Providence  in  the 

the  prophec ;  even  into  the  later  periods  of  the  chriH. 
tian  difpcnfation,  concerning  which  the  moll  glorious 
things  are  foretold. 

The  other  obfervation  alluded  to  above,  i§.  That 
in  the  prophetic  writings,  what  is  fpoken  primarily 
concerning  worldly  things  and  events  then  prefenr, 
pad,  or  fpeedily  to  come  to  pafs,has  often  a  reference 
lo  other  matters  ;  to  things  fpiritual  and  future  ;  and 
not  only  future,  but  far  diftant ;  and  indeed  princi- 
pally refpe£ls  thefe  :  viz.  the  perfon,  offices,  and 
reign  of  Chriit  ;  and  the  glory  of  his  kindgdom  in 
the  latter  days.  So  that  in  one  view,  the  fame  paf- 
fage  is  fometimes  common  hiftory,  and  in  another 
-view,  illuRrious  prophecy ;  fome  word  or  claufe  being 
purpofely  inferted,  which  determines  the  padage  to 
be  of  the  prophetical  kind  ;  and  chiefly  to  relate  to 
the  kingdom  of  Chrili,  even  Vv'hile  a  great,  or  perhaps 
^he  greater  parr  of  it,  has  a  plain  reference  to  other 
niatters,  more  commpn  and  ftmiJiar. 

Many  of  the  pfalms"^  of  David  are  plain  exam- 
ples, and  undeniable  proofs,  of  both  thefe  obfervatir 

ons.' 

*  As  for  inflance,  the  2nd,  72nd  and  89th  pfilnis.  The  paf- 
fages  of  fcripture  which  have  fuch  a  double  meaning,  arc 
indeed  numerous,  both  in  the  old  and  new  teftarocnt. 
And  they  partake  of  tjic  nature  of  parables,  or  allegories  ; 
which  are  fornetimes  literally  true,  either  in  parr  or  whole  : 
But  what  is  chiefly  intended  in  them,  is  the  moral,  or  fpiri- 
tual meaning  couched  under  thofe  common  words  &  phraf- 
cs.  And,  what  this  f^condary,  yet  principal,  and  ultimate 
fcnfc  is,  may  |;cnera!ly  at  lea(l,if  not  always,  be  determined 
v/ith  grc.it  eafe  and  certainty  by  the  difccrning  and  judici- 
ous. Tho'  it  mud  not  be  denied,  that  fome  whimfical.but 
well  meaning  people,  ha?c  made  very  odd  work  with  fuch 
pafTagis,  by  oyer  draining  them  ;  and  have  fometimes  con- 
ceited a  double  meaning  without  a^y  appaient  rcifon  for  it  : 
whereby  they  have  given  too  much  occaHon  to  others  to  ri- 
dicule the  whole  notion  of  types,  and  a  dqublc  fcnfc,  as 
^ho'  k  were  in  iifclf  abfurd. 


Stfccefs  and  Confequencei  of  Wars,  &c.       "7 

ons.  And  the  98th  pfalm,  the  beginning  of  which  I 
have  chofen  for  the  ground  of  my  difcourfes  on  the 
prefent  joyful  occafion,  is  an  example  of  the  latter 
of  them. 

In  this  pfalm  David  praifesGod,  and  exhorts  others 
to  praife  him,  on  account  of  forae  fignal  appearances 
of  his  providence  in  favour  of  his  chofen  people  ;  in 
faving  them  from,  and  giving  them  vi£lory  over  their 
enemies  ;  hereby  openly  fliewing  his  righteoufnefs  to 
the  heathen  nations  around  them.  This  is  doubtlefs 
the  primary  defign  of  the  pfalm  ;  at  leaft,  of  the  for- 
mer part  of  it :  But  it  is  not  the  principal,  or  ultimate. 
In  its  chief  and  ultimate  view,  it  is  a  prophecy  of 
what  was  to  come  to  pafs  in  the  days  of  the  MeJfTiah  ; 
when  God  was,  by  him,  to  make  known  his  falvation 
in  a  far  higher,  and  more  illuftrious  fenfe  ;  and  to 
reveal  his  righteoufnefs,  not  only  to  the  heathen  na- 
tions in,  and  round  about  the  land  of  Canaan,  but  to 
the  uttermoft  parts  of  the  earth.  So  it  is  faid,  ver.  3d, 
in  the  ixmcfaj}  (as  is  common  in  the  language  of  pro- 
phecy,to  denote  the  immutable  certainty  of  the  thing 
fpoken  of  )  '*  He  hath  remembered  his  mercy  and 
"  his  truth  toward  the  houfe  of  Ifracl  :  All  the 
"  ENDS  OF  THE  EARTH  have  fccn  thcfalvation  of  our 
'*  God."  In  confequence  whereof,  not  only  Ifrael, 
but  all  the  earth,  is  called  upon  in  the  following  ver- 
fes,  to  make  a  joyful  noife  unto  the  Lord,  to  rejoice 
snd  fing  his  paifes.  Yea,  the  fea,  and  the  fuinefs 
thereof,  are  bid  to  join  in  this  concert  ;  the  world, and 
they  that  dwell  therein,  while  "  the  floods  clap  their 
•*  hands,  and  the  hills  are  joyful  together." 

This  is  both  extremely  fublime,  and  very  natural ; 
6nce  the  main  fubje(^  of  the  pfalm,  is  that  glorious 
reign  of  Chrill.  before  the  conclufion  of  which  there 

A  4  « 


E         Confiderations  on  Providence  in  the 

is  to  be  a  general  "  reftltution",  or  renovation  of  all 
things  ;  even  of  the  material  earth  and  heavens.  For 
behold,  faith  the  Lord,  I  make  all  things  new  :  And 
we,  according  to  his  promife,  look  for  new  heavens 
and  a  new  earth,wherein  dwelleth  righteoufnefs.  And 
indeed  this  pfalm  itfelf,  tho*  a  fhort  one,  looks  for- 
ward to  the  lime  of  our  Lord's  fecond  coming  ; 
*'  whom  the  heavens  mud  receive,  [only]  until  thefe 
"  times  of  reftitution  of  all  things,  which  God  hath 
*'  fpoken  of  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  holy  prophets, 
''  fince  the  world  began.''"^  For  it  is  to  be  obferved, 
that  all  things  rational  and  irrational,  animate  and 
inanimate,  are  called  upon  thus  to  rejoice  together, 
*'  BEFORE  THE  LoRD  ;  for  he  Cometh  to  judge  the 
*'  earth  :  With  righteoufnefs  fhall  ho  judge  the  world, 
*'  and  the  people  \yith  equity  j"  as  the  pfalm  con- 
cludes. 

But  to  return  to  the  text :  "  O  ling  unto  theLord 
*/  a  new  fong,  for  he  hath  done  marvellous  things : 
*'  his  right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm  harh  gotten  him 
''  the  viflory.  The  Lord  hath  made  known  his  fal- 
^'  vation  :  his  righteoufnefs  hath  he  openly  fliewed  in 
*'  the  fight  of  the  heathen."  Tliis  pafTage,as  before 
obferved,  has  undoubtedly  a  reference  to  fome  very 
remarkable  deliverance  which  God  had  vouchfafed  to 
his  people  Ifrael,  and  to  his  fubduing  their  enemies 
under  them  ;  hereby  making  manifelt  his  righteouf- 
nefs to  their  heathen  neighbours.  In  confequence 
whcrcof,ihc  Ifraelites  are  admonifhed  to  (mg  "  a  new 
*'  fong"  ;  which  was  not  ufed  to  be  done,  but  upon 
fame  very  (Ignal  occafion.  But  while  the  padage  has 
fuch  a  retrofpe(5i  to  things  and  events  already  pail,  it 
docs,  without  all  reafonable  doubt,  look  forward  to 
things  and  events  then,  and  even  flill  future.  And 
this  new  fong,  confldcred  in  the  ultimate  view  of  the 
palT:ige,  may  probably  be  no  other  than  that  menti- 
oned in  the  revelation  of  St.  John,  The 

♦  Aas  Ml.   21. 


Succefs  and  Confeqiiences  of  Wars,  Szc.         ^ 

The  prefent  occafion,  you  are  fenfible,  leads  us 
directly  and  immediately  to  confider  this  padage,  only 
as  an  exhortation  to  praife  God  for  the  temporal  fal- 
vation,  the  fuccefTes  and  vi£lories,  with  which  at  any 
time  he  favours  his  people  :  but  efpecially  when  thefe 
are  very  fignal  and  illultrious  ;  fo  that  by  them,  God 
may  be  fciid  to  make  known  his  falvation,  and  openly 
to  fhew  his  righteoufnefs  in  the  (ight  of  the  heathen. 
Which  is  {lri(ftly  and  literally  applicable  to  what  he 
hath  lately  done  for  us,  at  leaf!  here  in  America.  But 
having  confidered  and  applied  the  paflage  in  this  view 
of  it,  I  am  perfuaded,  you  will  think  it  proper  for  us 
then  to  extend  our  views  beyond  thefe  temporal  con- 
cernments ;  and  briefly  to  confider  what  afpe<fi:  our 
military  fncccfFes  have  upon  the  kingdom  ofChriil, 
the  extenfion  thereof,  and  its  eflabl-ifhment  in  its  pow- 
er and  purity  thro'out  the  earth.  For  this  is  not  only 
that  event,  to  which  the  pafiage  ultimately  relates ; 
but  it  is  what  we  all  do,  or  fliould,  firmly  believe  and 
pray  for,  whenever  we  repeat  thofe  words —  *'  Thy 
*'  kingdom  come  ;  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is 
*'  in  heaven"  !  And  our  late  victories  and  fuccefles 
may,  not  improbably,  contribute  to  the  accompliili- 
ment  of  this  great  event. 

But  before  I  come  to  fpeak  particularly  of  thefe 
fiiccedes,  which  have  lately  attended  the  arras  of  our 
king  ;  and  of  our  obligation  to  (ing  a  new  fong  on  ac- 
count of  them;  it  will  be  proper  to  obfcrve  and  il- 
Juftrace  one  mod  important  point  of  doiflrine  contained 
in  the  text  ;  and  which  is  really  the  foundation  of  all 
the  gratitude  and  praife,  which  we  owe  to  almighty 
God  for  them.  It  is  this ;  That  God  is  truly  the 
author  of  all  our  deliverances  from,  fuccefles  againft, 
and  victories  over,  our  worldly  enemies.  You  fee 
U:iat  ihcfe   are  in  the  text  afcribed  to  God  /  there 

being 


lo  Conjukrat'ions  on  Providence  In  the 

being  no  particular  mention  made,  fo  much  as  of  any 
means  or  indriimcnts,  employed  by  him  in  bringing 
thein  to  paf^.  Altho'  means  and  inftruments  are  at 
Icalt  generally,  if  not  always  fuppofed,in  fuch  cafes ; 
yet  the  plalmill  here  takes  no  particular  notice  of  any, 
bat  attributes  all  directly  to  God.  The  Lord  hath 
i\o\-\t  iiiarvcilous  things,  fays  he  ;  his  right  hand,  and 
his  holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  viftory.  He  is  ac- 
cordirgly  faid  i0  have  made  kno\vn  his  falvation 
hereby  ;  and  to  have  openly  ihewed  his  righteouf- 
nefs  to  ;he  licathen  :  Tho'  pofFibly  there  might  have 
;been  nothing  of  a  miraculous  kind,  {lri<9:ly  fpeaking,in 
.the  deliverance  and  fuccefTes  wherewith  God  had 
favoured  hi-i  people,  and  which  are  here  primarily  in- 
tended. At  leail  this  is  fuppofcable  ;  for  the  fame 
,kind  of  language  is  often  ut'cd  in  fcripture,  refpe^ling 
thofe  fucceiles  and  vi^lories,  which  were  confeiTedly 
brought  about  only  by  natural,  ordiiiary  ajid  human 
means  ;  which  is  fufficient  to  my  prefent  deHgn, 
And  fo  much  it  was  needfuj  to  obferve,  previoufly  to 
my  entering  upon  it.  For,  intirely  fetting  afide  the 
cafe  of  miraculous  interpofitions,  with  which  we  our 
.felves  are  not  novv  concerned  ;  it  is  propofed,by  divine 
alhilance,  to  illudrate  snd  conHriii  the  proportion 
mentioned  above,  on  the  fuppoHrion  that  things  come 
to  p:,:fs  according  to  what  is  called  the  edabliihed 
courfe  of  nature,  and  the  fettled  order  of  things.  For 
jevep,  upon  this  fuppolMon,  as  well  as  in  thofe  cafes 
where  miracles  arc  to  be  admitted,  all  our  temporal 
deliverances,  victories  and  fuccelKiS  are  fi'om  almighty 
Cod: — Otherwife  indeed,  I  knov;^  not  what  reafoa 
^ve  have  tg  praifc  hi  in  for  them,  however  great  or 
important  rhey  arc  in  liiemfelves.  And  this  is  cer^ 
taj.ily  a  point,  very  fuitable  to  employ  our  thoughts 
>:  thisfeafon,  and  upon  the  prefent  occafion. 

However, 


Succefs  and  Confequences  of  Wars^  See.        1 1 

However,  you  will  obferve  that  it  is  not  fo  much 
the  proof,  llridlly  (peaking,  as  the  ilhiftration  of  this 
point,  that  is  now  intended :  Becaufe  it  is  taken  for 
granted,  that  we  all  in  general  believe  this  to  be  true 
already  ;  and  therefore  do  not  need  to  have  it  proved 
to  us  in  a  formal  manner.  But  yet  it  may  be  profi- 
table to  many,  and  indeed  to  all  of  us,  to  hear  fome 
refle£hons  and  remarks  upon  it,by  way  of  illuftration. 

SoMB  general  notion  of  a  providence  fuperintend- 
ing  the  world,  and  the  concerns  of  mankind,  has  been 
common  in  all  parts  and  ages  of  the  world;  and  alfb 
common  to  all  perfons,  with  a  very  few  exceptions. 
The  ancient  epicureans,  indeed,  denied  a  providence, 
while  they  profefied  to  believe  there  were  Gods  in 
great  number  ;  fo  many,  that  it  were  eaficr  to  call  all 
the  ftars  by  their  names,  than  to  give  a  catalogue  of 
them.  But  perhaps  they  acknowledged  a  deity,  or 
deities,  only  to  avoid  the  general  odium  of  mankind, 
being  nothing  better  than  atheifts  in  difguife ;  if  in- 
deed there  beany  fuch  thing  as  fpcculative,  or  philo- 
fophical  atheifm.  But  at  this  day  all  profciled  theiOs, 
to  be  fure  all  chriftians,  believe  a  providence  ;  how- 
ever crude,  indigefted,  and  partial,  the  conceptions  of 
many  perfons  may  be  concerning  it.  None  of  thefe 
imagine,  as  the  epicureans  affc6ied  to  do,  that  God 
is  too  indolent,  or  that  he  difdaineth,  to  concern  him- 
fclf  about  the  things  that  are  donf  on  earth,  even 
tho'  he  humbleth  himfelf  when  he  beholdeth  them 
that  are  done  in  heaven  ;  in  thofe  heavens,  which  are 
not  clean  in  his  fight,  and  the  angels  whereof  he 
chargeth  with  folly. 

Now,  if  there  be  any  fuch  thing  as  a  providence, 
convcrfnnt  and  aftive  about  men,  and  their  temporal 
concernments,  which  is  taken  for  granted  j  certainly 

national 


12  Confiderations  on  Providence  in  the 

national  wars  and  their  events,  mud  be  under  God's 
particular  infpc^tion  and  fuperintendence;  thefe  be- 
ing, in  their  nature,  of  the  higheft  importance,    and 
the  confequences  of  them  mod  extenfive  and  intereft- 
ing.    It  is  on  the  conduct,  fuccefs  and  ifTue  of  battles 
and  wars,  that  the  temporal  welfare  of  nations  princi- 
pally depends,  from  generation  to  generation.     Ani 
notonly  their  temporal, but  their  fpiritual  welfare  alfo, 
depends  in  a  great  meafurenpon  the  management  and 
iilue  of  wars.     For  hereby  it  is  frequently  determin- 
ed, in  efie6l,  not  only  whether  people  fhall  enjoy 
iheir  native  country,  their  laws,  their  civil  rights  and 
liberties ;  but  alfo  whether  they  fhalj  lofe  or  enjoy 
their  religion, with  their  fpiritual  privileges  ;  and  whe- 
ther their  poflerity  fliall  be  of  this  pr  that  religion, 
or  perhaps  of  none  at  all, 

Whoever  is  converfant  in  hlflory,  or  is  tolerably 
acquainted   with   the  pad  and  prefcnt  flate  of  the 
world,  knows  that  the  religious  llate  of  countries   is 
often  determined,  ahpod  unavoidably,  to  be  what  it  is 
in  general,  by  wars  and  conquefls ;  almofl:  as  certain^ 
ly  as  their  political  and  civil  (late.     How  often  docs 
the  conqueror  deprive  the  conquered  of  their  old  re- 
ligion>  cither  in  whole  or  in  part ;  and   give  them   a 
ne  v  one  in  its  room  ?   Which  is  done,  cither  by  right 
CO  vn  tyrannical  impofiiion,   or  elfc  by  allowing  fomc 
I  eculiar  privileges  of  a  fecular  nature   to  thofe  who 
will  make  an  exchange  ;  uhich  latter,  though  it  be  a 
gentler  and  more  humane  way  of  bringing  about  a 
revolution  in  religion,  and  may  require  more  time,  js 
not  perhaps  a  lefs  cfncricious  and  certain  one  in  the  end. 
Sometimes  both  thefe  methods  are  einploycd  at  once, 
iiud  what  is  ir,  for  examplc,that  hath  made  almoli  all 
the  Eufi,  mshouictans  ?    thole  who,  at   lea^^  whofe 
fore-fati:crs,were  once  chrillians  ?  What  is  it  that  hath 

produc'd 


Succefs  and  Confequences  of  Wars ^  Sec.       13 

produc'd  Co  prodigious  an  alteration  in  the  religious 
ftate  of  thofe  countries,  in  fo  confiderable  a  part  of 
Europe,  Afia  and  Africa  ?  Thevifible,  apparent  cau- 
fes  hereof,  were  the  wars  and  conquefts  of  the  Sara- 
cens ;  of  Mahomet  and  his  fucceirors,  and  the  vari- 
ous methods  iifed  by  them  to  fupprefs  the  religion  of 
Chrift,  and  to  propagate  the  impollure  of  the  Coran.^ 
This  is  only  mentioned  as  one  remarkable  example 
of  what  is  ufually  the  effect  of  conquefts  in  a  greater 
or  lefs  degree.  It  cannot,howevcr,  be  denied, that  the 
changes  thus  introduced  in  religion,  are  fometimes 
for  the  better,  as  well  as  often  for  the  worfe.  As,  for 
inftance,  fmce  the  time  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  at  lead 
of  William  III,  the  roman  catholic  religion  has,  I 
fuppofe,  hfen  gradually  lofing,  and  the  proteftant 
gaining  ground,  in  Ireland  :  And  this,  without  perfe- 
cution,  inquifitions  and  racks ;  which  are  abhorrent 
from  the  principles  of  the  latter,  tho'  very  confonant 
to  the  fpirit  and  temper  of  too  many  of  its  profeflbrs. 
Now,  if  this  be  indeed  God's  world,  and  in  any  pro- 
per fcnfe  under  his  in(pe£lion  and  government,  it  is 
impofnble  but  that  he  muft,  in  fbme  way  or  other, 
order  and  determine  thefe  great  events  of  war,  by 
which  almoft  all  other  things  are,  in  effe^l:,  determin- 
ed; both  in  the  religious  and  civil  ftate  of  nations. 
If  we  fhould  fuppofe  that  fuccefs  and  vi£lory  are  not 
owing  to  the  influence  and  operation,  or  the  provi- 
dential government  of  God, we  ihouldtakea  great  and 
inoft  material  part  of  his  work  out  of  his  hands ;  leav- 
ing him,  I  had  almoft  faid,but  very  little  to  do  in  the 
adminiftration  of  this  world.  On  this  fuppofition.the 
world  would  be  governed  almoft  without  him  ;  even 
with  refpc^i:  tothegreateft,  and  moft  interefting  events 
and  revolutions,  that  come  to  pafs  therein  from  age 
to  age !  And  if  we  could  once  fuppofe,  that  God  does 

not 
*  Or  mahometan  bible. 


14  Cofifiderations  on  Providence  in  the 

hot  concern  bimfelf  about  thefe  matters,  the  wars  of 
nations,  their  conduct,  and  various  ifliies ;  if  we  could 
once  imagine,  that  fome  mighty  empires  are  reduced, 
overturned  and  ruined,  while  other  kingdoms  are 
founded,  extended,  and  made  formidable,  indepen- 
dently of  God,  or  without  his  providential  influence 
?nd  ordination  ;  we  might  then  come  into  this  farther 
concluflon,  naturally,  if  not  neceffarily  flowing  from 
fuch  premifes,  viz.  That  all  other  events  in  this  world 
alfo  come  to  pafs  independently  of  God  ;  they  being 
apparently  of  lefs  confequence  to  the  world  than 
thefe.  But  as  this  would  be  dire6lly  to  adopt  the  old 
epicurean  (yftem,  which  was  really  no  better  than 
difguifed  ntheifm,  it  is  concluded,  nothing  needs 
to  be  faid  in  confutation  of  it  in  a  chriAia^flembly. 

But,  from  thefe  general  reflections  on  the  over- 
ruling providence  of  God  in  the  fuccefs  and  ifliie  of 
wars,  we  will,  if  you  plcafe,  proceed  now  to  take  a 
nearer  and  more  particular  view  of  thefe  important 
events.  We  will  conflder,  what  are  the  ufual,  the  vi- 
fible,  and  more  immediate  caufes  of  military  fuccefles 
and  viftpries :  In  doing  which,  we  fliall  trace  the  vef- 
tiges  of  divine  providence.  We  fliall  hereby  fee  fome- 
thing  of  the  manner,  in  which  God  operates  to  the 
production  of  thefe  efFcCls  in  ordinary  cafes,  by  the 
inflrumentality  offecondary  caufes,  or  natural  metmsi 
Which,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  a  uieful  entertainment  to 
us,  and  particularly  feafonable  at  this  time. 

Wnr^N  nations  are  engaged  in  war,  there  afe  divers 
things,  to  which  fuccefs  is  apparently,and  more  vifibly 
owing,  whenever  obtain'd  ;  fometimes  to  one  of  them, 
fomctimes  toanother  ;  and  fometimes  to  a  coincidence 
of  feveral  together.  And  a  curfory  review,  or  brief 
confideraiion  of  thefe  things,  will  fcrve  to  illuflrate 

and 


Succefs  and  Confequencts  of  Wars,  &c.        15: 

and  confirm  the  main  point  before  us ;  by  fliewing, 
that  there  is  no  victory,  no  fuccefs  in  war,  but  what 
is  ultimately  to  be  refolvcd  into  the  holy  will,  the 
adive  influence,  or  providential  government  of  God. 

I.  To  begin  then  at  the  vifible  fource  and  foun- 
tain of  military  enterprifes  and  operations  :  Succtfsis 
fbmetimes  more  plainly  owing  to  a  fupcriority  of  wif- 
dom  in  the  cabinet,  in  a  king,  or  his  council  and  mi- 
niflry,  than  to  any  other  fecondary  caufe.  For  when 
there  is  an  equality  of  advantage  in  all  other  refpefts, 
fuch  a  fuperiority  of  wifdom  at  the  helm,  at  lead  or* 
dinarily  determines  the  fuccefs.  It  is  in  courts,  that 
the  fcheme  and  plan  of  wars,  and  the  general  m.anner 
of  condu6ting  them,  are  laid  and  fixed  upon.  And 
one  nation  often  becomes  vitorious  and  triumphant, 
rather  than  its  enemy,  becaufe  there  is  more  wifdom 
and  prudence  at  the  helm,  in  direfting  and  pointing 
its  military  efforts.  But  from  whom,  or  from  whence, 
did  fome  kings,  their  councils  or  minifters,  derive  this 
fuperiority  of  wifdom  and  genius  l  How,  for  exam- 
ple, does  it  come  to  pafs,  that  a  George  and  a  Pitt 
have  more  wifdom  than  a  Louis  and  a  Belle'ijle  f  Is 
their  wifdom  felf-derived  ?  or  have  they  more  than 
they  received  from  above  I  You  know,  who  it  is  that 
tcacheth  man  knowledge;  whofe  infpiration  giveth 
him  underftanding  ;  and  from  whence  all  found  judg- 
ment and  counfel  comes.  It  is  all  originally  from 
God,  as  truly  as  the  wifdom  of  prophets  and  apoftles; 
tho'  not  of  the  fame  kind,  nor  defigned  to  anfwer  ex- 
aftly  the  fame  ends.  So  that  whenever  fuccefs  and 
and  triumph  arc  more  vifibly  owing  to  fuch  a  fuperio- 
rity of  wildomat  the- helm,  than  to  any  other  caufe, 
you  fee  to  whom  the  glory  thereof  is  ultimately 
due. 

2.   SuCCESi 


l'6         Con fi derations  on  Providence  in  thd 

2.  Success  is  often  owing  to  a  fuperiority  of  mili- 
tary ikill,  courage  and  ftratagem,   in   the  general  or 
generals,  who  have  the  more  immediate  diredlion  and 
condu£l  of  a  war  committed  to  them.  All  other  circvim- 
ftances  being  fuppofed  alike,fuch  a  difference  between 
the  capacities  of  the  refpe£live  commanders  of  armies, 
commonly  at  lead  determines  the  victory.     Many  a 
general   and  admiral  have  lofl:  the  day,   merely  by 
being  outwitted  ;  and  as  many,  of  confequence,  have 
come  off  with  fuccefs  and  applaufe,  by  means  of  their 
fuperior  fldll  and  addrefs.    But  is  not  the  wifdom  and 
penetration  of  generals,  or  military  commanders,  de- 
rived from  the  fame  divine  fource,  with  that  of  kings, 
their  minifters  and  counfellors  ?  Does  not  God  make 
a  difference  in  this  refpe£l:  between  the  former,as  well 
as  between  the  latter  ?  Did  not  the  duke  of  Marl- 
borough, for  example,  receive  that  military  genius 
from  heaven,  which  gave  him  fach  a  fuperiority  over 
the    French    commanders,    the  beginning  of   this 
century  ?  Who  made  a  Ferdinand  fuperior  to  Rich- 
lieu  and  a  Contade  f  perhaps  to  a  Broglio  alfo  ?  And 
who  but  God  was  the  author  of  thofe  military  ac- 
compli fliments,  that  penetration,  addrefs,  and  true 
martial  ardor,   which  appeared  in  the  late   general 
WdLFE  ;  and  which  have  render'd  both  him,  and  thd 
HEIGHTS  OF  ABRAHAM,   forcvcr    memorable  ?    Or 
who  gave  another  general,  whom  I  need  not  name, 
the  wifdom  and  magnanimity  to  condu6l  the  war   in 
this  part  of  America,  to  a  conclufion  at  once  fo  glori- 
ous to    himfelf,   fo  happy  for  us,  and   for  Great* 

Britain  ? But  without  a  regard  to  any  particular 

times  or  fa6ls,  it  is  unqucftionably  true  in  general, 
that  fuperior  facjacity,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  mili- 
tary aiTctH'S,  brav^M-y,  and  a  right  judgment  in  a  chief 
commander,  yr^^.  oftlic  ntmolt  importance  ;  and  that 
fuccefs  is  ofu.'u  iiit-rc  viably  owing  hereto,  than  to 

any 


Succefs  and  Cotifequences  of  JVars ,  &c.        1 7 

any  other  caufe.  And  if  we  know  from  whom  thofe 
qualities  are  derived,  we  can  be  at  no  lofs,  to  whom 
the  fucceiles  obtained  by  means  of  them  are  to  be  af- 
cribed.  Certainly  God  did  not  originally  make  all 
generals  &  military  commanders  equal ;  or  give  them 
the  fame  capacity  and  genius  for  war :  We  have  fecn 
a  very  remarkable  difference  even  amongft  our  own, 
during  the  prefent  war. 

3.  Success  and  vi£lory  are  fometimes  moft  appa- 
rently owing  to  a  fuperioriry  on  one  fide  in  refpe£l  of 
numbers.  And  indeed,  when  there  is  equal  wifdom 
in  the  cabinet,equal  fkill,difcipline  and  bravery  in  the 
field,  and  all  other  circumflanccs  arc  alike  favourable 
to  both  fides ;  whenever  this  is  the  cafe,  it  is  plain 
that,  without  a  miracle,  vidlory  mud  declare  for  the 
mod  numerous  hoft.  And  numbers  have  often 
prevailed  againft  a  fuperiority  in  almofl  all  other 
refpefls  ;  tho'  not  fo  often  as  other  things  have  pre- 
vailed againft  numbers.  But  fince  this  is  fometimes 
the  cafe,  let  us  confider  whence  it  is,  that  one  nation 
or  country  is  more  populous  than  another  ;  and  able 
to  fend  more  troops  into  the  field.  Do  men  grow 
fpontaneoufly  out  of  the  ground,  like  trees  ^  or  ra- 
ther, as  they  do  not  ?  For  it  isGod's  hand  that  plants 
and  waters,  and  his  fun  that  warms,  even  the  meaner 
flirubs,  as  well  as  the  fpreading  oak,  the  hanging  elm, 
and  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,thofe  tall  and  ancient  fons 
of  the  forefl.  Now  doesGod  caufe  the  trees,and  even 
the  lowly  fhrubs,  to  abound  more  in  one  country  than 
another  ?  and  do  men,  who  are  fliled  ''  his  offspring," 
increafe  and  multiply  with  him  !  Surely  they  do  not. 
God  has  not  only  made  all  nations  to  dwell  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth  ;  but  has  determined  the  times  before 
appointed,in  which  they  live,  whether  in  fucccffion  or 
at  once  j  and  has  even  fixed  the  bounds  of  their  habi- 
B  tariui^ 


i8         Ccufiderations  o?i  Providence  in  the 

ration  rcfpeflively  ^.  If,  while  one  nation  is  incrcafed 
and  enlarged,  another  is  diminiihed  by  plagues, earth- 
quakes,  famine,  or  any  other  means,  doubtlefs  it  is 
the  providence  of  God  that  makes  this  difference. 
It  is  therefore  evident,  that  when  one  nation  is  fuc- 
cefsiul  in  carrying  on  a  war,  by  reafon  of  its  being 
greater  and  more  populous  than  another,  fuch  fuccefs 
is  ultimately  to  be  attributed  to  God,  who  multiplieth 
one,  and  diminiilieth  another  by  various  methods,  as 
he  pleafeth. 

4.  Success  and  viclory  are  fbmetimes  more  appa- 
rently owing  to  neither  of  thefe  things,  but  to  the 
inperior  courage  and  ftrength,  patience  and  rcfolution 
of  the  troops ;  I  mean,of  the  common  foldiery.  Thefe 
qualities  often  prevail  over  fuperior  numbers,  and 
nixTny  other  advantages,  to  fuch  a  degree  almofl,that 
one  has  been  known  to  chafe  an  hundred ;  and  two, 
to  put  ten  thonfand  to  flight ;  As  in  fomeof  the  wars 
of  the  Jews  of  old  ;  and  in  others  alfo,where  nothing 
prcetcrnatural  i?  fappofed  to  have  taken  place  ;  parti- 
cularly in  the  wars  between  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
the  Perfians :  Wl^erein  a  few  thoufands,or  even  hun- 
dreds of  the  former, fometimes  put  to  the  rout  almofl 
incredible  hofis  of  the  latter  ;  armies,  the  number  of 
which,  as  is  fnidof  Gog  andMagog,  ''  was  as  the  fand 
**  of  the  fea";  and  which  ''  went  up  on  the  breadth 
*'  of  the  earth"  f  againft  them.  But  whence  is  it 
that  fome  men,  yea  whole  nations  in  general,  have 
more  bodily  flrcngth,  and  more  fortitude  than  others? 
Some  are  doubtlefs  weaker,  more  timed  and  faint- 
hearted than  others,  even  by  nature.  Or  if  this  ap- 
parent difference  amongri:  men, be  in  part  owing  to  a 
difiLTencc  ir.  the  cli marcs,  who  made  this  difference  ? 
Or  if  it  be  owing  partly   to  different  ways  of  living, 

different 

*  Aas  XVII.  26.  t  Rev.  XX, 


Succefs  and  Confequences  of  PF'arS,  ScC,        i^ 

different  difcipline,  &c  ;  yet  the  providence  of  God 
is  not  to  be  excluded,  even  here.  There  is  indeed 
no  reafon  to  doubt  but  that  courage,  and  even  bo- 
dily (Irength,  may  be  acquired  and  improved  by  pro- 
per methods  of  living,  exercife  and  difcipline.  Buc 
this  is  never  ja^ually  done  independently  of  divine 
providence,  giving  opportunity  and  occafion  for  it, and 
leading  the  way  to  fuch  improvement.  There  is  of- 
ten a  co-incidence  of  many  things  and  events,  and  a 
long  train  of  particular  circumflances,  by  means 
whereof  the  courage  and  martial  prowefs  of  one  na- 
tion are  raifed  and  improved  to  a  prodigious  height ; 
while  in  another  nation  there  is  no  fuch  train  of  cir- 
cumftances,no  fuch  co-incidence  of  things  and  events, 
favourable  to  a  martial  fpirit  ;  But,  oii  the  contrary, 
fuch  an  one  as  tends  to  enfeeble  and  enervate,  to  dif^ 
pirit  and  debafe  the  people.  Now  this  long  rrain  of 
conne£led  circumftances  and  events,  tendirg  to  raife 
the  military  fpirit  of  one  nation,  and  to  deprtis  that  of 
another,  is  certainly  never,  in  the  whole  of  it,  the 
effect  of  human  contrivance,  forefight  and  ordination, 
of  which  it  appears  to  be,  at  leaft  in  a  great  meafure, 
independent.  Irmuftbe  afcribed  at  laft  to  that  di- 
vine providence,  which  fuperintends  and  over-rules 
all  thinc^s.  It  is,  in  fhort,  like  the  fabulous  golden 
chain  of  the  poets,  hung  down  from  heaven  to  earth ; 
the  upper  end  whereof  is  far  above  mortal  reach  and 

(ight,  and  there  faftened  to  the  throne  of  God  1 

Whenever,  therefore,  fuccefs  in  war  is  more  immedi- 
ately owing,  as  it  often  is,  to  fuch  a  fuperioriry  of 
martial  prowefs  and  bravery,  it  may  be  faid,  with  the 
greatefl:  truth  and  propriety,  that  God's  '*  right  hand, 
"  and  his  holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  vi<flory." 

$,  Success  is  fometim.es  owing,  more  immediately, 

to  neither  of  the  things  already  mentioned  ;  but  to  one 

B  2  nation's 


2d  ConfideraUoHs  on  Providence  in  the 

nation's  having  a  greater  plenty  than  another  of  mi- 
litary (lores,  provKionS,  and  all  things  neceflary  for 
profecucing  a  war  to  advantage  :  Or,  to  its  being 
richer,  which  comes  to  much  the  fame  thing  at  laft  ; 
for,  as  Solomon  has  obferved,  "  Money  anfwereth  all 
"  things."  But  whence  is  it  that  one  country  abounds 
with  provifions,  with  all  things  needful  in  carrying  on 
a  war,  or  with  riches  ;  while  another  is  barren,  defti- 
tute  of  thefe  conveniencies,  and  poor  ?  None  of  my 
hearers,  certainly,  need  to  be  informed  from  whence, 
or  from  whom,  thefe  differences  originally  proceed  : 
Who  it  is  that  giveih  corn  and  wine,  wool  and  flax  ; 
that  multiplieth  the  flocks  of  the  fliepherd,  and  feed- 
eth  the  cattle  upon  a  thoufand  hills  ;  that  has  ap- 
appointed  *'  a  vein  for  the  filver,  and  a  place  for  the 
**  gold  where  they  fine  it ;  while  iron  is  taken  out  of 
"  the  earth,andbrafs  is  molten  out  of  the  {l:one",where 
he  has  depofited  them  :  Or,  who  it  is  that  has  ordain- 
ed and  opened  the  canals  of  commerce  between  coun- 
try and  country,  either  more  or  lefs  convenient  for 
mercantile  intercourfe,  for  the  exchange  of  commodi- 
ties, and  fupplying  thofe  places  with  filver  and  gold, 
which  are  naturally  deftitute  of  them.  Will  you  ex- 
clude God  and  his  providence  from  having  done  thefe 
things  ?  Surely  you  will  not.  Whenever,  therefore, 
fuccefs  in  war  is  owing  more  vifibly  and  immediately 
to  fuch  plenty,  abundance,  or  fuperior  riches,  the  vic- 
tory is  plainly  theLord's :  Who  giveth  thefe  fiipplics, 
in  various  proportions  as  he  plcafeth,  out  of  his  own 
cxhaufilefs  (tores  and  treafuries,  to  different  nations, 
realms  and  kingdoms  :  None  of  which  podefs  more 
of  them,  than  they  pofTcfs  by  his  favour  and  bounty. 

6.  Where  nations  are  equal,  or  nearly  equal,  in 
all  thofe  refpc6ts  that  have  been  mentioned,  there  is 
yctfometimes  health  enjoyed  in  one  camp  or  army, 

while 


Succefs  and  Cenfequences  of  WarSy  Sec.       a  i 

while  ficknefs  prevails  in  that  of  the  enemy  ;  which  is 
the  more  immediate  caufe  of  fuccefs  and  vi(flory  to 
the  former.  Yea,  lefs  numerous  armies,  and  inferior 
in  every  other  refpedl,  have  prevailed  by  this  means ; 
while  far  fuperior  ones  have  become  an  cafy  prey  ro 
them.  But  whence  does  it  come  to  pafs,  that  ficknefs 
rages  in  one  country,  camp  or  army, rather  than  in  ano- 
ther? or  this  particular  year,rather  than  anothcr,either 
fore  the  war  commenced,  or  after  it  is  over,  and  all 
is  decided  ?  I  will  not  fufpe(5l  any  prefent  to  be  fo 
fceptical,  or  rather  fo  athciflical,  as  to  hefitate  a  mo- 
ment for  the  true  anfwer  to  thefe  demands.  When- 
ever,therefore,vi£lory  or  fuccefs  is  owing  to  the  greater 
health  enjoyed  in  one  army  than  in  the  oppofite,  you 
fee  to  whom  it  muft  be  attributed  at  laft. 

7.  Success,  when  all  other  circum fiances  are  nearly 
alike,  is  (bmetlmes  mod  apparently  owing  to  winds, 
tides  and  weather ;  which  prove  favourable  to  one 
fleet  or  army,  and  unfavourable  to  the  oppofite.  In 
all  maritime  wars,  and  all  military  operations  which 
have  any  connexion  with,  or  relation  to,  the  mighty 
waters  of  the  ocean,  or  even  to  lakes  and  navigable 
rivers  (as  indeed  almoft  all  national  wars  have,  cfpe- 
cially  in  this  age  of  the  world)  ;  in  all  fuch  wars,  a 
great  deal  depends  upon  weather,  winds  and  tides. 
Thefe  are  fometimes  fo  ordered,  as  to  give  fuccefs 
;ind  victory  even  to  the  inferior  fleet  or  army.  Some- 
times the  fuperior  fleet  fuffers  a  terrible  fhipwrack, 
and  all  defigns  mifcarry  therewith;  while  the  inferior 
rides  fafely  in  port,  or  fails  fecurely  juft  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  ftorm,  under  a  ferene  Iky,  and  profper- 
ous  gale.  Sometimes  a  numerous  army  is  obliged  to 
remain  inactive,  and  is  perhaps  half  flarved,  becaufe 
the  wind  has  held  long  to  the  northward  or  the  fouth- 
ward,  to  the  eaft  or  weft  ;  and   the  expelled  fupplieg 

B  3  hav 


ti  Conftderattons  on  Providence  in  the 

have  mifcarriec]  ;  perhaps,  been  driven  on  the 
enemy's  coaU,  as  a  feuronable  relief  to  them.  Yea, 
fometimes  when  well  appointed  armies  have  met  on  the 
field,  and  hjve  h:.d  no  connexion  with  feas,  lakes  or 
rivers  ;  the  wind,  rain  and  hail  from  heaven,  by  at- 
tackin-:^  one  of  them  in  front  in  the  time  of  battle, 
hav^e  been  ihe  nieaiv.:  of  pi^ttirg  it  to  the  rout,  and 
giving  the  v"aory  to  the  weaker  army.  Hiflory  fur- 
nifhes  examples  of  all  thefe  things.  Now  you  are 
fenfible,  that  winds  and  tides,  ftorms  and  tempefls, 
which  have  fuch  a  mighty  influence  in  w?.rs,efpecially 
in  naval  ones,  are  no  ways  dependent  upon  human 
wifdom  or  power  ;  but  upon  almighty  God,  So  that 
whenever  they  prove  favourable  to  one  fide^and  un- 
favourable to  the  oiher,  and  determine  the  faccefs  ; 
we  can  afcribe  fuch  faccefs  to  none  but  to  him,  who 
holdeth  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand  ;  whole 
pleafiire,  fnow  and  hail,  rain  and  vapour,  and  (iormy 
winds  fulfil  ;  and  of  whom  it  is  laid,  '*  There  is 
**  non^  like  the  God  of  Jefliirun,  who  ricJerh  upon 
'*  the  heavens  in  the  help  of  his  people,  and  in  his 
"  excellency  upon  the  Hey."  Deut.  xxxiii.   26. 

8.  Sometimes  fuccefs  is  owing,  more  immediately, 
to  what  is  vur;'ar!y  termed  a  mere  accident,and  which 
Solumon  hiinielf  c:!'!>  chnrice.  "  1  returned,  and  faw 
"  under  ihe  mn,fays  he,that  the  race  is  not  to  the  fwift, 
"  nor  the  battle  ro  the  Hrong — but  time  and  chance 
^^  happeneth  *o  them  all''  ^.  1'hat  is,  fome  unfore* 
feen,  unfjfpecled  turn,  incident  or  circumflance,  not 
owing  to  any  human  providence  or  contrivance, fome- 
times gives  the  race  to  the  flower,  and  the  vi6lory  to 

the 
*  Eclcf.  ix.  II.  The  word  chance  \%  di^eis  tJmes  ufoi  in 
fcrip'.ure  in  mucli  che  fame  fenfe  ;  and  particularly  in  our 
Saviour's  account  of  the  man  that  "  fclj  aniong  thieves,'* 
Luke  X  31.  "  And  by  chance  there  came  down  a  ccrtaii 
?*  Pfieft  ib^t  way,"  &c. 


Succefi  and  Confsquences  of  Pf^ars,  &c.       2  3 

the  weaker.     It  were  indeed  very  abfurd  to  fuppofe, 
that  the  fwifter  fhould   not  win  the  race,  all  other 
things  and  circumdances  relative  thereto  being  ahke  ; 
and  the  only  difference  lying  in  iherefi:)e6i:ive  Iwinnefs 
of  the  runners.     This  were  as  abfurd  as  to  fuppofe, 
that  a  winged  arrow  from  a  bow,  would  not  reach  a 
diftant  goal,   tho'   there  were  no  ob(lru(Slion  in  the 
way,  fooner  than  the  fleeping,  almofl  motionlcfs  fimil 
would  crawl  to  do  it.     It  were  alfo  irrational  to  fup- 
pofe, that  the  (tronger  army  fhould  not  prevail  in 
the  field,   all  other  things  and  circumftances    being 
alike  ;  and  the  only  difference  lying  in  their  refpec- 
tive  power.     This  were  as  abfurd  as  to  fupjx)fe,  that 
a  heavier  weight  ihould  not  preponderate  in  an  equal 
balance^and  overcome  a  lighter.  We  may  be  fure  that 
Solomon  was  too  much  of  a  philofopher  to  intend  either 
of  thefe  things,  fo  contrary  even  to  common  fenfe. 
His  meaning,  as  intimated  before,  doutlefs   is,   that 
certain  crofs  accidents,  finifter  and  unfufpe£led  occur- 
rents,  or  cafual ties, fometim.es  intervene  as  to  one  fide, 
or  fome  favourable  ones  as  to  the  other  ;  and  (natch 
the  vidory  from  the  {lrons;er,  yea,from  the  v/ifer  and 
braver,  giving  an  unexpected  triumph  to  the  lefs  nu- 
merous  and  valiant  hoft.     As  alf)   the  fwifter,  and 
more  expert  runner,   may  be  vanquifhed  by  running 
at  a  difad vantage,  by  making  one   flip,    or  a   (ingle 
mif-ftep.     Thus  it  is  that,  in  the  language   of  Solo-r 
mon,  time  and  chance  happen  to  all  men.     And  that 
great  victories  have  fbmietimes   been  thus  obtained  by 
inferior, over  fuperior  armies, without  any  realmifcon- 
du61  of  the  one,  or  any  wiier  or  braver  conduft  in  the 
t»ther,  hiftory  abundantly  atteftrs.     Thus,  for  illuflra^ 
tion,  the  better  general,  with  the  fuperior  army,  has 
not  always  had,  nor  could  have, his  choice  of  ground: 
Perhaps  he  was  a  dranger  to  the  country,  and  a  little 
£00  far  advanced,  or  not  quite  far  enough,  when   hs 
13  ^  was 


24  Cofiftderattons  on  Providence  In  the 

was  necefilrated  to  come  to  a  battle  at  a  great  difadvan" 
tage  ;  which  has  been  the  occafion  of  vi£i:ory  to  the 
weaker,  by  whom  perhaps  the  particular  time  and 
place  of  battle  were  as  unfought  for,  i.  e.  as  accidental, 
as  they  were  to  the  former.  So  again,  when  the  bed 
difpofitionshave  been  made  in  an  army  before  a  battle, 
upon  a  rational  prefumption  that  the  oppofite  army 
would  be  drawn  up  after  fuch  or  fuch  a  manner,  this 
has  proved,  perhaps,  the  lofs  of  the  day  ;  there  being 
an  order  of  battle  in  the  latter,  materially  different 
from  what  was,  on  good  grounds,  expelled  :  And  this 
polTibly,  rather  by  a  mere  miftake,  or  blunder,  than 
from  any  fuperior  ikill  in  the  arc  military.  So  that 
wifdom  on  one  fide,  and  want  of  it  on  the  other, 
have,  by  a  ftrange  kind  of  fatality  or  accident,  contri- 
buted equally  to  take  the  victory  from  the  ftronger  ! 
Yea  farther  :  Battles  have  been  loft  by  the  (Ironger, 
thro'  (ome  unaccountable  miflake  of  orders,  or  only 
of  a  fingle  word  at  a  critical  jun<^ure,  and  gained  by 
the  weaker  ;  to  which  decifion  of  the  day,  another, 
but  fortunate  miflake  in  the  latter,  may  have  partly 
contributed  !  Hiftory,  I  think^affords  examples  of  all 
thefe  things ;  at  leart,fuch  examples  as  are  a  fufficient 
ground  for  thefe  reprefentations :  Tho'  if  it  did  not, 
yet  thefe  things  are  plainly  fuppofeable  accord- 
ing to  the  courfe  of  nature  ;  which  is  fufficient. 
And  this  may  in  fome  meafure  ferve  to  illuftrate  and 
verify  the  obfervation  of  Solomon,  that  the  battle  is 
not  always  to  the  flrong ;  but  that  time  and  chance 
happen  to  all.  Indeed  fome  of  thofe  things  which 
were  mentioned  under  former  heads,  might  be  redu- 
ced to  this  of  time  and  chance,  according  to  this  noti- 
on of  it;  particularly  winds,  weather,  &c.  under  the 
Jaf^preceeding  head :  which  things  are,  as  to  us,  con- 
tirgcnt,  accidental  or  cafual  ;  noways  dependent  up- 
on human  providence  and  ordination. 

Akp 


Succefs  and  Confe  que  noes  of  Wars^  &c.       j  y 

And  bow  many  things  of  this  kind  are  there,whlch 
come  to  pafs  from  age  to  age,  fometimes  quite  con- 
trary even  to  rational  probability,  as   well  as  without 
any  human   contrivance,  to  fruilrate  the  devices  of 
men  ?  "  For  man  knoweth  not  his  time,  as  the  fifhes 
"  that  are  taken  in  an  evil  net,  and  as  the  birds  that 
*^  are  caught  in  the  fnare  ;  fo  are  the  fons  of  men 
"  fnarcd  in  an  evil  time,when  it  falleth  fuddenlyup- 
"  on  them"^".     Thus  It  is  that  Solomon  Illuftrates 
his  own  meaning  about  time  and  chance,  in  the  verfe 
immediately  following.     But  are  thofe  things  which 
are  chance  and  accident   to  us,  iliort-fighted  mortals, 
the  fame  to  God,  to  whom,  it  is  faid,  "  all  his  works 
*'  are  known  from  the  beginning  of  the  creation  ?" 
Can  we  think  that  fiich  things,  which  tho'  feemingly 
iittle  in  one  view  of  them,  yet  give  fuch  great  turns 
to  the  aifairs  of  nations,  and  are  relatively  of  fuch 
prodigious  importance  to  the  world,are  accidental  with 
regard  to  God  ;  or  that  they  happen   beyond,  or  bc- 
(ide,  his  intention  1  Certainly  we  cannot,  without  the 
greateft  impiety,  and  the  greatefl:  abfurdity,  in   ccn- 
jun^iion.     No  :  The  lefs  man  has  to  do  in   the  con- 
trivance, ordination  and  produ6i:ion  of  them,  i.  e.  the 
more  accidental  and  fortuitous  they  are  with  relation 
to  man,  the   mere  immediately  and  dire£i:iy  are  they 
to  be  attributed  to  God.     Thefe  things,  by  whatever 
name  or  names  they  are  called,  are  doubtlefs  ordain- 
ed by  him  to  be  producl:ive   of  fuch  and  fuch  confe- 
quences  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time>    to  confound  hum.an 
pride  and  arrogance,  that   no  flelh  might  glory  in  his 
(ighr.     In  one  word,  thefe  are^  without  all  doubt,   a 
very  material  part  of  that  great  plan  of  divine  provi- 
dence and  government,  which  are  carrying  on  in  th« 
world  from  one  age  and  generation  to  another.     For 
even  a  fparrow  does  not  fall  to  the  ground  without  our 

Father  , 

9  Ecclef  ix.  I  a. 


2  5  Conftderatlons  on  Providence  in  the 

Father  ;  and  when  men  caR  the  lot  or  die,  *'  the 
**  whole  difpoling  thereof  is  of  the  Lor  J  ""^j 

It  may  juH:  be  adued  here,  that  the  vi(Slory,  and 
with  it  the  civil  and  religious  llafe  of  nations,  has 
Ibmetimes  bven  determined  hy  an  unpremeditated  re- 
foliuion,  or  a  hicky  thought,  i»s  feme  would  plirafe  it, 
coming  into  the  mind  of  a  coTimander  in  a  decifivc 
moment,  one  can  hardly  tell  ho?/.  Aiiho'  it  was  net 
owing  to  any  fuperior  fep^aciiy  habitual  to  him  ;  yea, 
altho'  the  moH:  wife  and  experienced  generals  would 
perhaps  have  agreed  in  looking  on  it  as  ralh  and  un- 
juftifiable,  yet  it  has  fuccceded.  Of  this  there  have 
been  examples.  And  to  what  fliall  we  attribute  fuch 
victories  and  fucceiTes,  but  to  tliat  providence  which 
fuperintends  and  directs  all  things ;  and  to  the  influ- 
ence of  which,  even  chance  and  accident  are  fubjeft, 
in  accomplifhing  its  own  great  defigns  I 

Miraculous  interpofitions  being  excepted,  I  can- 
not rr-^dily  think  of  any  other  things  befides  thofc 
mentica^v^  ;;bovC;  ivbich  are  the  imm<"diare,  apparent 
caufes  of  vi«5tory,  and  military  faccefTes  ;  at  lead,  of 
any  which  may  not  eafily  and  naturally  be  reduced  to 
them.  And  a!l  thefe,  we  fee,  are  to  be  refolved  at 
jali  into  the  pleaflire  and  providence  of  God.  The 
wifdom  of  kings,  their  mimficrs,  counfellors,military 
commanders,  is  all  originuliy  from  him.  It  is  he  that 
muk;pri..^th  and  increafcih  nations  ;  that  givcth  fupe- 
rior irren^ch,  cournge,  plenty,  riches,  heakh.  Winds 
and  feas,  and  florms,  fulfil  his  pleafare  :  And  what- 
foever  is,  widi  rcfptd  to  us,  accident  or  chance,  we 
muil^unleis  we  are  epicureans  or ntheifts, acknowledge 
to  be  in  him  fixed  purpofe,    counfcl  and  dellination. 

But 
*  Prey.  xvi.  33. 


Succefs  and  Confequences  of  rp^an,Zcc.       27 

But  if  there  f]\ould  be  any  other  things  befides 
?hofe  mentioned  above,  to  v.'hich  fucccfb  is  ever  more 
immediately  owing  ;  it  mnfl, however, be  either  owing 
to  fbme  qualities,  powers  and  aflsof  fubordinate  agents 
intirely  dependent  on  him  ;  or  elfe,  to  fome  more  di- 
rt£l  influence  and  operation  of  the  fupreme,  original 
caufe  ;  for  there  is  no  medium.  If  the  former,  flill 
luch  fuccelTes  are  truly  from  God,  according  to  the 
lame  reafoning  that  has  been  ufed  above  :  But  if  the 
latter,  then  they  are,  by  the  very  fuppofition  icfelf, 
more  immediately  from  him.  ^ 

What  then  is  the  refult  of  all  this,  but  that  God 
really  fits  as  Umpire  on  his  eternal  throne,  between 
contending  nations  in  all  their  contefts,  whether 
for  right  and  juftice  only,  or  for  proud  dominion  ; 
giving  fuccefs  and  triumph  to  which  fbever  he  pleaf- 
eth  ?  And  it  is  always  to  be  remembered,  that  he 
afts  herein  the  part,  not  merely  of  the  (overeign,  but 
of  the  infinitely  wife  and  holy,  juft  and  good  gover- 
nor of  the  world.  His  providential  government  is  not 
deflruflive  of,  but  pcrfeclly  confident  with,  the  moral 
powers,  the  liberty,  and  proper  agency,  of  his  rational 
creatures  ;  being  conformable  to  the  nature  which  he 
has  given  them.  And  he  alfo  exercifeth  loving- kind- 
nefs,  judgment  and  righteoufnefs  in  the  earth,  by  de- 
fending 

*  It  Is  very  fuppofeablc  that  the  omniprcfcnt  Spirit,  which  is 
•'  above  all,  ar.d  thro'  alJ,  and  in  us  all",  may  often  imme- 
diately influence  the  human  mind  in  its  determinations,  tho' 
quite  irnpercepnbly.  Or  the  rainiftry  of  angels  may  be  em- 
ployed for  that  purpofc,  and  in  a  great  variety  of  other 
vtays,  to  the  produ(5lion  of  fuch  cfFtds  and  events  as  arc 
fpokcn  of  above  ;  of  which  there  are  more  than  obfcurc  in- 
timations in  the  fcripturcs  of  the  old  and  new  tcftamcnt. 
And  it  is  farther  to  be  cbferved,  that  both  thcfc  may  be 
fuppofed,  without  any  altcrntion  in,  or  infradlon  upon,  the 
viUlIc  cftabiiftied  couffc  of  things,  or  the  known  laws  of 
Diiiwre  J  fwcJi  a«  k  soipiita  iu  the  noiioa  of  a  tniracU. 


2  8         Confiderattons  on  Providence  in  the 

fending  and  profpering  one  nation  when  engaged  in 
war,  and  humbling  or  deftroying  another  ;  ordering 
all  things  in  the  moft  perfect  manner  pofTible.  Of 
this  we  may  be  fare  in  general,  from  what  we  know 
of  his  perfections  by  reafon  and  revelation ;  altho', 
when  we  come  to  particular  events  and  difpenfations, 
we  are  indeed  often  unable  to  fee  the  fpecial  reafons 
and  defignsof  them.  And  how  fhould  it  be  other- 
wife?  It  were  infinitely  abfurd  to  imagine,  that  crea- 
tures of  fuch  very  limitted  capacities  as  mankind,fhouId 
be  able  fully  to  comprehend  the  immenfe  defigns  and 
works  of  an  infinite  being.  It  were  as  rational  to 
fuppofe  that  a  child  in  the  arms  of  its  mother,  fhould 
be  able  to  comprehend,  not  only  the  oeconomy  of  the 
family,  but  of  the  great  kingdom  or  empire,  of  which 
it  was  born  a  fubjedl  ! 

Let  me  here  fubjoin  without  any  comment,  a  few 
paflages  of  fcripture,  which  being  taken  all  together 
in  one  view,  very  fully  and  ftrongly  exprefs  whate- 
ver has  been  faid  upon  this  fubjeCl.—  '*  Thine,  O 
Lord,  is  the  greatnefs,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory, 
and  the  viClory  and  the  majefty  :  for  all  that  is  in  the 
heaven  and  in  the  earth  is  thine.  Both  riches  and 
honor  come  of  thee,  and  thou  reigned  over  all  ;  and 
in  thine  hand  is  power  and  might,  and  in  thine  hand 
it  is  to  make  great,  and  to  give  ftrength  unto  all  "^" — 

**    Mine  UNDERSTANDING  RETURNED   UNTO  ME,    and 

I  blefied  the  Mod:  High — whofe  dominion  is  an  ever- 
lafling  dominion,  and  his  kingdom  is  from  generation 
to  generation.  And  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth 
are  reputed  as  nothing  ;  and  he  doeth  according  to 
his  will— All  whofe  works  are  truth,  and  his  ways 
judgments  ;  and  thofe  that  walk  in  pride  he  is  able  to 
abafe  §". —  *'  There  is  no  king  faved  by  the  multi- 
tude of  an  hoft  :  a  mighty  man  is  not  delivered   by 

much 
*  J  Chron.  xxix.  ii,  12.        §  Dan.  17.  34. 


Succefs  and  Confequenc^s  of  Tf^ars^fcc,       tf 

much  ftrength.  An  borfe  is  a  vain  thing  for  fafety  ; 
neither  fhall  he  deliver  any  by  his  great  ftrength. 
Behold,  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that  fear 
him"^" —  **  Bleded  be  the  Lord  my  ftrength,  which 
teacheth  my  hands  to  war,  and  my  fingers  to  fight  : 
my  goodnefs,  my  fortrefs,  my  high  tower,  and  my  de- 
liverer f  " —  "  God  is  the  judge :  he  putteth  down 
one,  and  fitreth  up  another:]:". —  **  Thus  faith  the 
Lord,  Let  not  the  wife  man  glory  in  his  wifdom,  nei- 
ther let  the  mighty  man  glory  in  his  might  ;  let  not 
the  rich  man  glory  in  his  riches.  But  let  him  that 
glorieth,  glory  inthis,that  he  underflandeth  and  know- 
eth  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord,  which  exercife  loving- 
kindnefs,  judgment  and  righteoufnefs  in  the  earth  : 

for  in  thefe  things  I  delight,  faith  the  Lord§". 

*'  Thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  is  in  the  heavens  ;  and  thy 
faithf  ulnefs  reacheth  unto  the  clouds.  Thy  righte- 
oufnefs is  like  the  great  mountains ;  thy  judgments 
are  a  great  deep"  ||  . —  *'  By  his  fpirit  he  garniih- 
cd  the  heavens  ;  his  hand  hath  formed  the  crooked 
ferpent.  Lo,  thefe  are  parts  of  his  ways  ;  but  how 
LITTLE  a  portion  is  heard  of  him  ^f" —  "  Canfl:  thou 
by  fearching  find  out  God  P  canft  thou  find  out  the 
Almighty  unto  perfection  ?  It  is  as  high  as  heaven, 
what  canft  thou  do  ?  deeper  than  hell,  what  canft 
THOU  know  H§ ! " 

Thus  I  have  offered  ibme  things  in  order  to  illuf- 
trate  and  confirm  that  important  point  of  do^^rine 
mentioned  in  the  former  part  of  this  difcourfe.  And 
let  the  impious  Mezetitti  of  the  earth  boaft  ever  fo 
often,  that  their  "  right  hand  is  their  God  §^;"  yet  it 

appears 
^  Pfalm  xxxili.  i6.       f  Pfalm  cxHv.   i.        J  Pf  Ixxvii    7, 
§  ix.  23.     11  Pfalm  xxxvi.   5.6.       ^  Job  xx?i.   13,  14,, 
||§  Chap.  xi.   7,  8. 

J*  Contemptor   Deum    Mezentlus  

Dextra  mihi  Deu8,  ct  tclinn     quod  xniffilc    IlUr©, 
Adfint  i  .  Virg. 


JO         ConfidemUons  on  Providence  in  the 

appears  that  there  is  Another,  whofe  right  ha nd.an(3 
his  holy  arm,  does,  and  will,  get  him  the  viftory. 
We  are  not  to  fiippofe  a  fatality  in  the  events  of  war, 
inconfillcnt  with  any  real  liberty  in  man.  Nei- 
ther arc  we  to  ruppofc,that  thefe  important  events  are 
fb  precarious  and  fortuitous  with  refpe^i:  to  our  felves, 
that  we  can  never  form  a  rational  or  probable  judg- 
ment concerning  ihem,  before-liand.  But,  accord- 
ing to  reafon,  to  fcripiureand  experience,  the  Author 
and  Lord  of  nature  does  fo  over-rule  and  controul 
mankind  in  the  exercife  of  all  their  powers  and  facul- 
ties (without  deflroying  them)  ;  and  fo  order  almoil: 
innumerable  other  things — every  thing  indeed,  rela- 
tive to  the  conduct  and  ifTue  of  wars,  as  to  hold  thefe 
events  in  his  own  hand  ;  and  to  keep  men  in  a  conti- 
nual dependence  on  himfelf.  A  nation  can  never  be 
certain  of  fucccfs  in  war  ;  fo  many  things  unexpc<^- 
edly  intervene  from  rime  to  time,by  God's  ordination, 
to  fruilrate  the  moli  fanguine  hopes.  And  fometimes, 
on  the  other  hand, contrary  to  all  apparent  probability, 
God  f^ipporteth,  raifeth,  and  crowneth  with  victory, 
thofe  that  were  caft  down,  without  ftrength  or  fpirits, 
and  fcemingly  on  the  brink  of  de{lru(Si:ion.  That  fome 
nations  are  in  fa61  thus  difappointed  and  humbled, 
and  others  exalted,  quite  contrary  to  human  probabi- 
lity, none  will  deny  :  And  he  that  will  afcribe  thefe 
events,  ukiniarcly,  to  any  thing  elfe  than  to  divine 
providence,  has  an  *'  evil  heart  oi  unbelief  in  de- 
♦*  departing  from  the  living  God." 

Some  of  thefe  lafl:  obfervations  might  be,  in  a  mca- 
fure,  exemplified  in  the  turn  which  the  prefent  war 
h  ts  taken  within  about  three  years.  There  has  fel- 
dom  been  (b  great  a  change  in  the  face  ofany  war  in 
fo  (horr  a  (pee,  as  this  took  about  that  time.  In  Vv'hat 
fea  did  our  fleets,  jud  before,  fupport  the  ancient  ho- 
nor 


Succefs  and  Confequences  of  JVars,  &c.      31 

nor  of  the  Britifli  flag  ?  Where  were  not  onr  troops 
defeated  and  difgraced?  What  part  of  our  extended 
frontier  in  America,  was  not  drenched  with  blood  ? 
What  countenances  did  not  appear  deje6lcd,  except  of 
thofe,  who  were  not  the  friends, perhaps  the  enemies, 
of  their  country  ?  In  what  nation  were  we  not  become 
a  bye-word  and  an  hifTing  ?  v/hile  the  very  favages 
defpifed  and  infulted  us.  How  wonderfully  is 
the  fcene  changed  fmce  ?  Where  are  not  the  Britifh 
fleets  and  armies  now  v^riorious  ?  IJow  many  ?  u-hat 
important  conquefls  and  acquifitions,  have  been  made? 
What  fatisfa^lion  appears  in  the  face  of  every  well- 
wiflier  to  Great-Britain,  and  her  dependencies  ?  If 
war,  horrid  war,  can  ever  wear  any  other  than  a  hide- 
hus  form,  it  may  now  be  fa  id  to  have  put  on  a  finiling 
countenance  with  refpe^l:  to  us.  But,  like  the  fabled 
jfanuSf  whofe  temple  was  always  open  in  a  time  of 
war,  it  has  two  faces.  If  with  one  it  f  miles  onus, 
with  the  other  it  certainly  frowns  on  our  enemieSjpar- 
licularly  here  in  Am.erica.  They  now  feel  all  that 
we  either  felt  or  fear'd  from  them  heretofore,  ex- 
cepting the  effe^s  of  favage  cruelty  and  treachery  ; 
which  God  grant  they  mny  never  feel  from  the  hands 
of  Britons,  or  Britifh  fubjefls !  Whatever  they  may 
deferve,  we  certainly  owe  more  reverence  to  our 
felves,  and  to  human  nature,  than  at  once  to  diflio- 
nour  and  debafe  both,  by  retaliating  their  perfidy  and 
barbarity.  This  were  as  much  beneath  us,  and  even 
more,  than  for  a  man  of  virtue  and  true  honor  to  be- 
come a  common  executioner.  Such  work  is  fit  only 
for  them, and  for  hl??i ''  whofe  works  they  ufe  to  do." 

Divers  things  have  been  mentioned  in  this  dif- 
courfe,  as  the  more  immediate,  apparent  caufes  of 
military  fuccefles  and  victories ;  ibm>etimes  one  of 
tliem,  fometinies  another,  and  fometimes  fevcral  of 

them 


J  2  Confiderations  on  Providence  in  the 

them  In  conjun<^ion  ;  all  by  the  determinate  counfel 
and  ordination  of  heaven.  It  would  be  an  unnecef- 
fary,  perhaps  an  indecent  inquiry,  To  which  of  ihefe 
things  the  great  change  in  the  face  of  the  prefent  war, 
and  our  military  fuccefTes  for  feveral  years  part,  have 
been  more  efpecially  owing  ?  fince  this  might  lead  to 
fuch  comparifons  as  ought  not  to  be  made.  There 
has,  I  fuppofe,  been  a  co-incidence  of  feveral  of  thefe 
things,  to  the  produ^ion  of  fuch  happy  and  glorious 
events  :  Wifdom,  and  found  policy  at  the  helm  :  mi- 
litary /Idll,  fpirit  and  magnanimity  in  the  commanders 
of  our  fleets  and  armies"^  :  courage,  difcipline,  and 
martial  prowefs  in  the  troops :  plenty,  health,  &c. 
And  what  may  feem  to  have  had  as  little  hand,  per- 
haps, as  any  thing,  in  moft  of  our  fucccfles,  is  that 
which  was  diflinguiflied  by  the  name  of  accident,  or 
chance.  However,  this  is  not  to  be  wholly  excluded 
from  having  had  a  Ihare  therein  :  For  in  all  military 
affairs  and  enterprizes,  after  human  policy,  wifdom 
and  bravery  have  done  their  beft,  there  will  dill  be 
fomething,more  or  lefs,  left  to  the  decifion  of  chance; 
that  is,  in  other  words,  left  to  be  determined  more 
immediately  by  the  hand  and  providence  of  God, 
Let  it  fuffice,  that  our  fuccefles  are  real  and  great ; 
and  that,  by  whatever  means  they  have  moft  vifibly 
been  obtained, they  are  originally  fromGod,to  whom 
the  glory  of  them  is  therefore  due. 

I  AM,  by  God's  leave  and  help,  in  the  afternoon 
to  make  fome  more  particular  obfervaiions  and  re- 
flections on  our  lare  military  fuccelTes,  efpecially  in 
the  total  redu6lion  of  Canada  ;  and  alfo  briefly  to 
confider,  what  afpc6l  thefe  fuccefles  have  upon  the 
enlargement,  and  more  general  eflablifliment  of 
Chrifl's  kingdom  in  the  world  :  which  is  the  grand 

and 

*  Not,  however,  without   fomc  exceptions. 


Succefs  and  Confcquences  of  TVars^  Sec.      33 

and  glorious  event  to  which  my  text,  and  the  whole 
pfalm  relates,  in  its  uhimate  view.      And   we   flioukl 
remeinber,  thai  in  the  common  cuurfe  of  things,  the 
great  defigns  of  God's  kingdom  and  grace  are  carry- 
ing on  in  the  v-orld,  even  by  means  of  wars  and  the 
fword.     All  thcfe  commotions  are  preparatory  andin- 
trodu<5lory  to  the  glorious  things  foretold  of  the  latter 
days  ;  when,  ''  from  the  rifing  of  the  fun,  even  iin- 
**   to  the  going  down  of  the  fiime,  the  name  of  GcJ 
"  lh.i!l    be  great  among  the  gentiles  ;  and  in  every 
*'  place  incenfe  fhall  be  ofTcrcd  unto  his  name,  and  a 
*'  pure  offering  :  for  my  name  fhall   be  great  among 
"  the  heathen,   faith  tlie  Lord  of  hoffs''  "^ .     While 
perhaps  kings,   or  even  whole  nations,   are  proudly 
flruggling  for  mutual  revenge,  or  for  extended  empire 
and  dominion, without  a  thought  of  any  thing  farther  ; 
there  is  One  who,  tho'  invifible  to  mortal  eye,preiides 
over,  and  dire61s  all,with  far  other  views  and  defigns; 
with  defigns  and  views  infinitely  more  wife,  juff,  bene- 
volent and  auguft  :  And  whatever  He  wills  is  defli- 
ny.     For  there  is  no  underflanding,   or  counfel,  or 
might  againd:  the  Lord.    Sooner  Ihall  man   that   is  a 
worm,  and  the  fon  of  man  that  is  a  worm,  *'   break 
*'  God's  covenant  of   the  Day,   and  his  covenant  of 
*'   night,    fo  that  there  fhall  not  be  day  and  night  in 
*'  their  feafon-j-",    than  fruflrate  his    piirpofe  as  ex- 
prefTed  in  the  prophecy  following —  ••   The  God  of 
*'   heaven  fhall  fet  up  a  kingdom  which  fliall   never 
*'  be  deilroyed  ;  and  the  kingdom  fliall  not  be  left  ro 
**  other  people  ;  but  it   Hiall   break  in    pieces,    and 
*'  confime  all  thefe  kindgdoms,  and  it  lliali  fland  for 
"  ever  "ij. 

Let  us,  my  Brethren,  be  truly  fenfible,   that  it  is 
to  God  we  are  indebted,  not  only  for  all  our  late  mi- 
litary fucceffes,  but  for  life,  breath,  and  every  blelTiicr 
C  which 


*  Mai.  i.  5.  f  Jer.  xxxlii.  20.         {!  Dan. 


u.  4 


fi- 


54  Confide  rat  ions  on  Providence,  &c. 

which  we  enjoy.  "For  of  him,andthro'him,and  to  him 
''  are  all  things" — If  we  are  now  truly  thankful  to 
our  God,and  walkanfwcrably  to  the  obligations  which 
he  hath  laid  us  under,  we  Ihall  at  length  praife  him 
without  wearinefs  in  **  a  temple  not  made  with 
*'  hands'* ;  and  begin  that  glorious  thankfgiving,thofe 
fongs  of  vifle^y  and  triumph  with  patriarchs  and  pro- 
phets, with  apofcles  and  angels,  wherewith  the  uni- 
verfe  fliall  refbund  when  thefe  heavens  are  *'  folded 
"  up  and  changed" — In  the  mean  time,  O  let  us  fing 
nnto  trie  Lord  a  new  fong  here  on  earth  ;  for  he  haih 
already  done  marvellous  things;  his  right  hand  and 
his  holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  vi£l:ory — Give  unto 
the  Lord,  O  ye  mighty  ;  give  unto  the  Lord,  all  ye 
kindreds  of  the  earth ;  give  unto  the  Lord  glory  and 
ftrength  ;  give  unto  the  Lord  the  glory  due  unto  his 
name • 


The  End  of  the  firft  Difcourfe. 


^^^''^^'^^-''^cS^^^^'^^'^J^'^^ 


Difcourfe 


Difcourfe     IL 

Concerning  the  late  Succefies  of  His 
Majefty's  Arms,  more  efpecially  in 
the  Redudion  of  Canada  ;  and  the 
Afped  they  have  upon  the  Kingdom 
of  Chrift,  its  Extension,  and  farther 
Eftabhfhment  ;   with  Refledions. 

PSALM     XCVIil.    I,    2. 

O  Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  fong,  for  he  hath 
done  marvellous  things  :  his  right  hand,  and  his 
holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  victory. 

The  Lord  hath  made  known  his  falvation  :  his 
righteoufnefs  hath  he  openly  fhewed  in  the 
(ight  of  the  heathen. 

^^^"^!^x  AIL,  Happy  day!  and  thanks  to  Him 
^'^XJ^I*  that  made  it  fuch  !  This  is  indeed  a 
<V^li'>^>  ^ood  day,  which  the  Lord  hath  made 
^CW^^J^]*  for  us  to  be  glad  and  rejoice  therein  ;  A 
Sar'Tfif'SiK^Sfl^  day  which,  if  not  many  prophers,  yet 
many  wife  and  righteous  men  have  defired  to  fee  ; 
and  which  we  their  pofterity  are  To  highly  favoured 
of  God,  as  now  to  behold.  Let  us  therefore  fing  a 
C  2  new 


^6     Co /ice  ml  rig  the  ReduB'ton  of  CAi<i  ad  a,  &c. 

new  fong  unto  the  Lord,  vvliofe  right  hand,  and  his 
holy  arin  hath  gotrcn  him  the  vi£lory  ;  whereby  he 
harh  made  known  his  iaivation,  and  (liewed  his  ri;h- 
teoufnefs  to  the  heathen, 

Wherever  the  Hnging  of  a  new  fong  is  mentioned 
in  fcripture,  as  it  is  in  divers  other  places,  it  has  a 
reference  to  fome  very  (ingular  event,  by  which  God 
manifefls  his  power  rmd  glory;  his  loving-kindnefs 
to  his  people,  orhis  jnil  feverity  in  the  punilhment  of 
their  enemies.  Anci  it  was  obfcrved  to  you  in  the 
morning,  that  this  padage,  and  the  pfalm  in  general, 
has  a  retrofpedl  to  fbme  remarkable  appearances  of 
God  s  providence  in  behalf  of  his  people  llrael.  This 
is  not,  however,  the  ultimate  view  of  the  pfalm,  or 
of  tl'iis  palTage  in  particular.  It  is  nor  merely  of  the 
jiiitorical,  but  alfo  of  the  prophetic  kind  ;  looking 
for'ward  to  the  great  things  then,  and  fiili  future  ; 
which  arc  moH:  furely  to  come  to  pafs  in  the  latter 
days,  under  die  reign  of  the  Merfiah  :  When  God 
will  more.fjgnally  difplay  his  falvation,  and  openly 
fhew  his  rightcoufliefs  to  all  the  gendle  nations  ; 
'*  giving  his  fon  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and 
*'  the  uttermod  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  poffelTion." 
Agreeably  wheren^,  th^  anolHe  John  tells  us,  that  he 
jheard  a  new  fong  f<Jii^g  ;  in  which,  it  feems,the  whole 
rational  creation  bore  a  part —  ''  And  every  creature 
"  which  is  in  heaven,  and  on  the  earth, and  under  the 
*'  earth  ;  and  fach  as  are  in  the  fea,  and  all  that  are 
"  in  them,  heard  I  fiying,  BleiTmg,  and  honor,  and 
/'  glory,  and  power  be  unto  him  that  (itteth  upon  the 
f  throne,  and  unto  the  lamb  for  ever  and  ever"^. 

The  text  in  its  ultimate  defign  and  view,  leads  our 
thoughts  to  the  time  when  this  new  fong  fliall  befung, 
on  occafion  of  thoie great  diings  and  glorious  events, 

he  re  u  fie  r 

*  Vid.  Rev.  V   9-13. 


Concerning-  ths  KcduBion  of  Canada,   &c.      3  7 

hereafter  to  be  accoinpliflied  ;  of  which  God's  mak- 
ing knovvn  his  falvation  to  his  people  of  old,  and 
fhewing  his  righteoufnefs  to  the  heathen  in, and  round 
about  the  land  of  Canaan,  was  typical,  and  a  kind  of 
pledge.  But  the  prefenc  occafion  lead.s  us  more  par- 
ticularly to  confider  this  pafT^ge,  as  an  exhortation  to 
praife  God  fcr  the  temporal  deliverances  with  which 
he  favours  his  people,  and  the  fuccelles  and  victories 
which  he  grants  them  over  their  v/orld!y  encn:iies. 
However,  it  was  intimated  to  you,  that  1  Ihould  not 
quite  lo[e  fight  of  this  palTage  confide  red  in  its  ultimate 
def]gn,  or  as  having  a  prophetic  reference  to  the  glory 
of  ChriiVs  kingdom  in  the  latter  days  :  Efpccially 
fjnce  thofe  fuccelles  with  which  God  hath  lately  fa- 
voured us  againd:  cur  papal  and  heathen  enemies, may 
pofTibly,  or  rather  probably,  be  one  means  of,  and  a 
f;ep  towards,  the  final  accoinpliflimcnt  of  thofe  far 
greater  things  vi'hich  arc  fiiortly  to  come  to  pa  fs. 

The  main  bufmefs  of  my  difcourfe  in  the  morn- 
ing, was  to  illuf^rate  and  confirm  an  important  point 
of  doflrine  contained  in  the  text :  viz.  That  Cod  is 
truly  the  author  of  all  our  deliverances  from,  fuc- 
ceiles  againff-,  and  victories  over,  our  worldly  enemies. 
His  right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm,  faith  the  pfalmitl-, 
hath  gotten  him  the  victory,  &c.  This  is  indeed  the 
foundation  of  ail  our  religious  joy  and  gratitude  on 
fuch  occafions  as  the  preient.  It  was  thcfefore 
thought  proper  to  enlarge  upon  this  point.  And  ac- 
cordingly we  traced  fcime  of  the  foot-fleps  of  divine 
providence,  and  the  v;ir;ous  methods  of  its  operafu.n, 
in  giving  falvation  and  victory  to  thofe  whom  it  fa- 
vours ;  and  in  accompli iliing  its  own  great  defiens. 
But  having  already  laid  what  may  fcrve  in  fome 
incafure  to  clear  up  and  el'iablifli  this  im.portant  prin- 
ciple of  natural  and  revealed  religion  ;  and  alfo  made 
I'jaie  fhcrr,  general  reflexions  on  our  late- militaiy 
C   3  fuccelTcs 


38     Concerning  the  ReduSiion  of  Canada,  &c. 

fuccedes :  It  will  now  be  proper  to  take  a  nearer, 
and  more  particular  view  of  thefc  fucceflc-s,  efpeci- 
ally  here  in  America,  in  the  redudlion  of  Canada  ; 
which,  you  are  fenfible,  is  the  principal  cccafion  of 
our  appearing  before  God  this  day  to  fing  a  new  fong 
of  praife  to  him.  However,  fome  other  fuccefles 
with  which  God  hath  lately  favoured  the  Britifli  arms 
in  other  parts,  will  not  be  wholly  omitted. 

Some  of  my  hearers  may  probably  remember,  that 
on  the  day  of  our  public  thankfgiving  the  lail  year  on 
the  fdrrender  of  Quebec,   the  capital  of  Canada,  I 
confidered  the  importance  of  that  acquifition,   not  fo 
much  in  itfelf,  as  with  reference  to  what  might  proba- 
bly be  the  confequence  thereof  another  campaign.viz. 
the  intire  redu61ion  of  the  whole  country  :  Some  of 
the  happy  effefts  whereof  were  then  reprefented  to 
you,  upon  a  prcfumption  that  this  muft  be  the  confe- 
quence  of  thatacquifition,  with    the  ordinary  bleiTmg 
of  providence  on   the  Britiih  arms  ;  or  unlefs  fome- 
thing  out  of  the  common  courfe  of  things,  iliould  in- 
tervene to  prevent  it.     I   now   heartily  congratulate 
you,  my  friends  and  brethren  here  prefent,  and  blefs 
the  great,  the  eternal  God,  who  prefides  over  nations 
and  their  affairs,  that  he   has  not  frufirated  thofe  our 
hopes;  but  fulfilled  and   realized  them,  in  fome  re  f- 
pects  even  beyond  what   we  could   have   reafbnably 
expected.     But  having  heretofore  confidered  the  fur- 
render  of  Quebec  in  connexion  with  thefuppofed  re- 
du^ion  of  Canada,  as   the  natural  confequence  ;  and 
fpoken  fomewhat  particularly  of  the  advantages  which 
muft  refult  to  Great-Britain   and   her   colonies   from 
fuch  a  conqueff  ;  you  are  fenfible  that  I  have  hereby 
in  ibme  meafure  anticipated  the  joy  and  gratitude  of 
tliis  day  ;  and  precluded  myielf  from  faying  divers 
things,  which  might  otherwiie  have  been  proper  on 

ihc 


Concermng  the  ReduSlion  i?/  Canada,  &c.     39 

the  prefer) t  occafion  :  I  mean,  unlefs  I  fhould  go 
into  a  repetition  of  the  fame  things ;  of  which  I  am 
not  fond. 

However,  Hnce  it  is  proper  to  fay  fomething  par- 
ticularly upon  this  conqueflj  in  order  to  excite  our 
gralitudge  to  the  fupreme  Governor  of  the  world, 
from  whom  falvation  and  vi^lory  come  ;  I  iliall  noc 
fcrupuloufly  avoid  every  thing  that  was  mentioned  on 
the  occafion  aforefaid  ;  But,  touching  briefly  on  thofe 
things  which  were  then  chiefly  enlarged  upon,  I  fhall 
now  fpeak  more  efpecially  of  fuch  as  neither  were, 
nor  could  be,  taken  notice  of  at  that  lime,  without  the 
fpirit  of  prophecy. 

Let  us  then  confider  the  compleatnefs  of  this 
conquefl: ;  the  great  importance  of  it  co  Great-Bri- 
tain and  her  American  colonies  ;  the  little  lofs  of 
men  with  which  it  has  been  efle<51ed  ;  and  fome  of 
the  foot-fleps  of  providence  therein.  After  which, 
we  will  rake  a  curfory  notice  of  fome  other  of  our 
military  fuccefl^s  (ince  the  time  of  our  lafl  public  and 
general  thankfgiving  :  All  which  tbgether,  aflx)rd  us 
the  agreeable  hopes  of  feeing  the  prefent  calamitous 
war  foon  brought  to  a  happy  period,  and  demand  our 
moft  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  God  of  armies. 

We  may  now,  with  the  greatefl  propriety,  conflder 
the  conquft  of  Canada  as  compleated.  The  French 
no  longer  hold  a  fingle  fort,  garrifon,or  fortified  place, 
in  that  country  ;  but  ihere  has  been  a  formal  furren- 
der  of  the  whole  by  the  governor-general  thereof  to 
the  Britilh  commander  ;  the  principal  parts  whereof 
had  indeed  before  been  brought  under,and  fubduedby 
force  of  arms.From  what  we  have  already  heard, it  may 
bereafonably  fiippofed  that  the  far  greater  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  NewFrance  are  before  this  time  become 
Britiili  fubjeas  ;  having  taken  an  oath  of  allegiance 
C  4  ^' 


40     Concermng  the  ReduBion  of  Canada,   S^c. 

at  leaQ  of  fiddity,  lo  his  MajoQy  :  While  the  regular 
troops  and  nrarinc  coi-npanies  of  Franco,  with  all 
officers  civil  and  m'ditary,  and  other  pcrCons  of  any 
diflin£l:ion  who  m'ght  pron^ote  dillurbanccs,  are  em- 
barked, or  embarking, for  tlieir  mother  country.  The 
liritiHi  troops  are  a(51ua]Iy  in  pollcirion  of  all. places 
'^^•^<^  polls  of  any  confequence,  fuch  as  they  deflre  to 
jjodcfs;  and  in  fufficicnt  numbers.  So  that  if  there 
ihould  be  any  eiTort  made  by  the  French  with  their 
favdgcs  to  recover  the  country  from  their  conque- 
rors, it  mud:  cerrainly,  without  a  miracle,  be  to  no 
purpofe.  Tho'  there  is  not  the  leail  renfon  to  fu(pe6l 
there  will  be  any  fjch  mad  attempt  madr  :  Efpeci- 
ally  when  we  conHder  that  the  French  who  remain  in 
the  country,  are  difarmed  ;  that  the  favages  in  thofc 
jiurts,  wiih  whom  they  are  forbid  any  commerce,  are 
become  our  allies  ;  and  lafliy,  that  the  Englifli  gene- 
ral has  iliown  ^o  much  clemency  and  humanity  to  the 
Canadians,  a^  to  have  endeared  himfclf  to  tbein,  and, 
^%  we  are  informed,  to  make  them  confider  him,  not 
fo  much  their  conqueror,  as  th-ir  proreclor  and  deli- 
verer from  their  old  tyrannical  maders.  "^  In  fliort, 
we  may  look  upon  thi  .'•country  as  cffedlually  fubdu- 
ed  ;  as  cfTeffuaily  as  it  could  liave  been,  unlefs  fire 
and  fword  had  been  carried  thro'  it  from  one  end  to 
the  other,  to  devour  without  niercy  all  that  came  in 
their  way  ;  \^'hich  were  equally  inconfifient  with  the 
genius  of  the  religion  we  profefs,  and  with  the  true 
bravery  and  genemfity  of  Britons,  how  agreeable  fo- 
ever  it  might  be  to  the  bloody  religion,  to  the  favage 
fp'rit.and  the  butcherly  conducf  of  cur  enemies  :  And 
it  may  be  added,  how  much  provocation  focvcr  they 
have  given  us,  by  their  former  treacheries  and  baiba- 
rities,  to  treat  them  in  the  fame  mianncr  whenever  it 
fhould  bo  in  our  pov/er.  This 

*  It  is  crcdi'^ly  fai'l  that  M.  Vaudreuil,  the  la  e  ooverr.or  • 
general  of  Canada,  was  almod  iiniveiTally  dcttflcd  by  the 
Canadians  for  his  pride,  avarice  and  cruelty. 


Concerning  the  ReduBion  of  Canada,  &c.     41 

This  conqued  of  New  France  Is  moft  important 
in  its  nature  and  confcquenccs,  as  well  as  jcompleat. 
The  country  itfelf  is  large  and  fruitful  ;  many  parts 
of  it  well  cultivated,  and  much  more  populous,as  well 
as  fertile, than  we  were  taught  to  believe  in  times  pad. 
This  Gonquert  adds  at  once  a  large  extent  of  territory 
to  the  Eritifli  empire  in  America  ;  and  a  great  number 
of  fubjed^ts  to  the  Britiih  crown,  who  may  in  time  be- 
come very  ufeful  ones.  All  the  Indians  bordering  on 
Canada,  will,  or  rather  arealready,bccome  our  friends 
and  allies.  None  of  the  American  favages  are  now 
our  enemies,  excepting  two  or  three  tribes  on  the  back 
of  our  fouthern  colonics,  in  the  intereft  of  theFrench 
of  Louifiana.  Tiicfe  have  indeed  lately  committed 
the  mofi  horid  outrages,  accompanied  with  the  black- 
eil  treachery  ;  taught  them,  doubtlefs,  by  the  great 
maders  thereof,  the  French,  at  whofe  inftigation  they 
commxnced  their  hodilities.  However,  this  rupture 
with  thofe  favages  will  probably  be  of  no  long  conti- 
nuance. They  received  a  ccnfiderable  check  the 
lad  fummer,in  the  dedru^lion  of  (bme  of  their  towns. 
And  they  v/ill  doubtlefs  be  awed  by  the  late  fuccedes 
of  the  Britidi  arms;  and  by  plainly  feeing  theEnglilh 
now  fo  fuperior  in  America,  that  they  can  have  no 
dependence  upon  the  French,  cither  for  fupplies  or 
proteclion.  God  hath  made  known  his  falvat!on,and 
openly  dievveJ  his  righteoufnefs,  to  all  the  heathen 
nations  in  thefc  parts  of  Amciica  ;  who  were  no  d ran- 
gers to  the  perfidy,  the  wicked  defic^ns  and  pra£lices 
of  the  French.  Thef:  favages  who,  like  (bme  more 
refined  politicians,  chule  always  to  be  on  the  dronged 
fide,  have  in  times  pad  been  indudrioudy  fed  up  by 
the  French  with  an  opinion  of  their  great  fuperiotity  ; 
that  they  diould  be  able  at  length  to  fubdue  us,  and 
inake  a  conqucd  rf  the  v/hole  country.  But  the  eyes 
of  almoil  all  ef  iliem  are   now  fufnciently  opened; 


42     Concerning  the  ReduBion  of  Canada,  &c. 

and  thofe  of  the  few  others,cannot  long  continue  fhut. 
They  wiW  probably  expe6i:  in  a  fliort  time  to  {clq, 
Loiiifiana  in  \k\t  fame  fituation  with  Canada — Nor  are 
they  flow  todifcern,  or  backward  to  follow, their  own 
imerefl.  So  that  we  may  reafonably  depend  on  hav- 
ing them  all  in  a  manner  our  friends,  from  Hudfon's 
Bay  to  Lake  fuperior  ;  and  from  thence  foinhward  to 
the  gulph  of  Mexico.  Inftead  of  having  any  of  them 
todidurb,  and  break  np  our  infant  fettlements  from 
time  to  time,  as  heretofore,  we  ihall  have  a  large  and 
profitable  trade  opened  with  them  ;  even  with  nations 
whofe  very  names  were  lately  unknown  to  us.  Our 
colonies,  it  maybe  fuppofed,  will  enjoy  peace  for  the 
future  ;  and  with  the  common  blefTmg  of  providence, 
be  greatly  increa  fed  and  enlarged  in  thecourfe  of  a  few 
years. 

These  things  will  dire^lly  and  manifeflly  tend  to 
the  emolument  of  Great-Britain,  by  prodigioufly  in- 
creafing  the  demand  for  her  manufactures,  enlarging 
her  commerce,  and  augmenting  her  maritime  power : 
Efpccially  if  the  North-an^crican  cod-fifhery  fhould 
be  all,  or  chiefly,  in  tho  hands  of  Bririfli  fubjefts. 
The  French  themfelves  who  fliall  remain  inCanada, 
will  be  tobefupplied  withEuropean  commodities  from 
Great-Britain,  as  well  as  the  favages  in  America,  and 
her  own  colonies,  probably  in  a  fhort  time  increafed 
beyond  what  many  perfons  vvili  eafily  conceive  at 
prefent.  And  even  the  inhabitants  of  Great-Britain 
will  be  greatly  multiplied  hereby,  if  not  in  proportion 
to  thofe  of  her  colonies  ;  (ince  many  more  thoufand 
perf()ns  of  different  occupations,  will,  by  fuch  a  vaff 
demand  and  confumption  of  her  manufaflures,  readily 
f^wdi  [he  means  of  fubiiflence,  than  can  do  fo  at  prefent ; 
which  is  doubtlefs  the  reafon  why  fiie  is  not  more  po- 
pulous. So  that  if  the  f^rength  and  honor  of  a  nation 
•onfifts  in  the  number  of  its  induftrious  people,  in  an 

extended 


Ca?icermng  the  ReduBlon  of  Canada,  &c.     ^j 

extended  commerce,  and  in  riches,  whereby  ^iit  is 
enabled  to  raife  armies,  to  equip  mighty  fleets,  and 
to  m:iintain  both  as  occafion  requires  ;  thefe  are  the 
advantages  which  will  in  ihe  ordinary  courfe  of  thingj 
refult  to  the  Britilh,  from  the  late  fuccefs  of  his  ma- 
jefty's  arms  in  America."^ 

The  reduftion  of  Canada,  fb  important  in  its  na- 
ture and  confequences,  has,  thro'  the  good  providence 
of  God,becn  compleated  with  very  little  lofs  of  men: 
With  far  lefs,  indeed,  than  could  well  have  been  ima- 
gined, confidering  the  number  of  the  enemy,  the  vi- 
gorous effort  they  made  to  recover  their  capital  early 
in  the  fpring;  and  (to  give  them  their  due)  the  fpirit 
and  refolution  which  they  have  fhown  on  fome  other 
occafions  (ince  this  v;ar  commenced,  to  defend  their 
country,  ani  to  give  trouble  and  annoyance  to  us.  In 
which  attempts  they  have  divers  times  been  far  more 
fuccefsful,  not  only  than  we  could  have  wiflied,  but 
than  was  to  the  honor  of  the  Eritifh  arms.  Witneft 
Gfwego,  Fort  Wiliiam  Henry,  and  more  efpecially 
Ticonderoga  !  Witnefs  alfo  Fort  Du  Quefne,  and  the 
banks  of  the  Monongahela,  fliil  perhaps  white  with 

the 

*  The  ihings  hinted  In  this  paragraph  were  more  particularly 
mentioned  in  the  .Outlier's  2^  difcourfe  the  jaft  year,  occ?.G- 
oncd  by  the  furrender  of  Quebec  :  And  they  are  fip.ce  fct  in 
a  very  full,  cicar  and  (Irong  iiglit  in  a  Tradt  lately  publi/hed 
in  London,  and  re- printed  here,  cntiiuled.  The  hitereji  of 
Grsat- B 7 iia'tn  cor- ftdersdnxiith  regard  ic  hsr  Colonies ^  &G. 
In  this  judicious  Tr2(5t  it  is  compoted,  that  in  one  century 
the  ruittbc!  of  Britiili  fubjcds  on  this  fide  the  Atlantic  may 
probably  exceed  thut  now  on  tlje  other  ;  and  that  Great- 
Britain  hcrfeit  is  C'?p.*ble  of  containing  and  fupporting  ten, 
tiv:es  the  number  of  people  (lie  docs  at  prefent,  could  they 
but  fird  employment  by  the  increufed  demand,  and  proper 
returns,  for  lier  rnannf^<fi'jrcs.  To  which  nothing  caa 
contribute  fo  rraicb.  iiijd  To  ccrtulf.  iy,  is  the  growth  of  her 
Amcrieao  colonies. 


^4     Concerning  the  Re  duel  ion  of  Canada,  ^c. 

the  bones,  if  not  red  with  the  blood,  of  our  flaughter'd 
troops  !  When  we  reflect  on  thefe  things,  adding 
thereto,  that  the  enemy  were  lately  in  poflelTion  of 
feveral  pofls  and  pades  lying  between  our  armies  and 
them,  ftrong  both  by  nature  and  art  ;  and  that  they 
had  the  advantage  of  a  pcrfedl  knowledge  of  the 
country,  of  which  we  knew  bur  li[tle  :  Vvhen  we  re- 
flexion thefe  things,  could  it  have  been  fuppofed  that 
general  Amherst,  with  all  his  addrcfs,  his  patience 
and  magnanimity,  would  have  been  able  to  compleat 
the  redu£lion  of  Canada  almofl  without  any  lofs  of 
men  ?  Excepting  thofe  which  were  drowned  in  pafhng 
the  difficult  and  dangerous  rapids  above  Montrenl,and 
thofe  who  have  been  taken  off"  by  (jckncfs,  I  think 
the  whole  lofs  amounts  but  to  about  an  hundred  "^  ;  in 
taking  the  arm'd  veflels  of  the  enemy  on  the  lakes, 
and  feveral  firong  forts  advantage oully  (ituated,  and 
vigouroufly  defended,  of  which  it  u'as  necedary  to 
become  maflers  before  the  army,  or  rather  armies, 
could  arrive  at  the  ifland  of  Montreal,  where  it  was 
commonly  fuppofed  the  chief  Icene  of  action  would 
be.  But  when  the  three  I  armies  uere  drawn  near 
together  at  that  place  by  their  relj^ec^tive  leaders,  but 
all  under  the  general  diie(flion  and  orders  of  One  ; 
it  feems  that  general  Amherst  had  little  more  to  do 
than  to  make  his  own  terms, and  to  receive  the  furren- 
der  of  Montreal  and  the  whole  country  from  the 
French  governor:  Little  elfe,  I  fliould  have  faid,  un- 
lefs  it  were  to  keep  their  own  enraQ,*d  favages  froni 
falling  upon  the  French  to  plunder,  butcher  ana  fcalp 
them  in  tiieir  turn,  by  whom  thefe  lavages  had  been 
fo  long  deceived  and  abufcd. 

The 

*  i.  e.  Since    the    25th    of  April,    1760. 

4-  One  by  the  way  of  i  ike  Ontuio,  one  by  lake  Ghamplain,aad 
ihe  otlitr  from  Quebec. 


Concerning  the  ReduBlon  of  Canada,  &c.     4j^ 

The  enemy,  tho' numerous  and  well  fupplied^werd 
fendble  oF  rlic  fuperior  vvifdom  and  military  accom- 
plilliments  of  the  Britifli  general,  the  bravery  of  his 
officers  and  troops.  They  were  afioniflied  at  his 
having  furmouiucd  all  obflacles  in  his  advances  towards 
them  ;  wherein  they  th(>'t  they  faw  the  evident  foot- 
lleps  of  divine  providence, and  from  whence  they  pre- 
faged  their  approaching  face.  They  were  at  the  fame 
time  fo  well  fatisfied  of  the  clemency  and  honor  of 
general  Amherst,  that  they  prudently  chofe  to  lay 
down  their  arms  and  fubmit,  rather  than  hazard  a 
battle.  And  by  what  we  hitherto  learn,  the  terms 
granted  to,  or  rather  impofed  on  them,  were  as  ho- 
nourable to  the  Britifh  general  and  arms  as  we  could" 
have  defired  ;  tho'  Hill  more  favourable  to  theFrench 
than  y?/(f^  enemies,  all  circumftances  confidercd,  had 
any  right  to  expert.  For  tho'  all  that  were  found  in 
arms,  were  to  be  fentout  of  the  country,  and  not  to 
fervc  during  the  prefent  war,  againft  his  majefty  or  bis 
allies  ;  together  with  other  perfons  of  any  diftinction; 
yet  it  feems,  the  main  body  of  the  people  are  permit- 
ted to  continue  in  the  country,  and  to  enjoy  their  e- 
jftates  under  the  proteftion  of  the  Britifh  government, 
on  taking  an  oath  of  allegiance,  or  fidelity  to  his 
majefty.  j- 

Thus  has  this  great  conqueft  been  compleated,  as 
was  faid  before,  with  an  inconfiderable  lols  of  men  : 
A  conqueil  which  will  in  all  probability  be  followed 
with  very  extenfive  happy  confequences,  both  as  to 
Great- Britain  and  her  A incrican  colonies,  whofe  true 
inrerefts  are  abfolutely  inieparable  :  A  conquelt  v/hich 
is  likely  to  be  advantageous  to    the  Canadians  them- 

felves, 

I  It  is  faiH,  the  arric'es  of  furrendcr  were  pretty  numeroas  ; 
but  what  they  are,  is  not  yet  panicul'^rly,  at  leaft  not  pub- 
lid.ly  known  amongft  us.     They  were  limned  Sept. 8. 1769. 


4<5     Concerning  the  ReduBion  of  Canada,  &:c.   ' 

felves,  who  with  their  pofterity  may  live  in  the  coun- 
try under  the  EngliOi  government,  and  be  far  more 
happy  than  under  ihe  French  tyranny  :  A  conqueft 
to  the  honor,  not  only  of  the  arms,  but  the  humanity 
of  Britons:  And  a  conqueft  wherein  che  veOiges  of 
divine  providence  have  been  very  confpicuous.  There 
is  no  need  of  adding,  A  conquefl  which  will  forever 
render  memorable  and  illuilrious  the  name  of  that 
difcrete,  wife,  and  truly  magnanimous  general,  who, 
under  God,  has  effected  it  ;  and  thereby  put  fo  happy 
and  glorious  a  period  to  the  war  in  this  pan  of  America. 

They  who  are  acquainted  with  the  geography  of 
North- America,  may  pofiibly  fuppofe  that  the  re- 
duction of  Montreal  and  Canada  might  have  been 
iboner,  and  more  certainly  effeCled,  by  one  grand 
army  by  the  way  of  St.  Lawrence,  than  by  leveral 
frnaller  ones,  conducted  thro'  fiich  tedious  and  diffi- 
cult routs  as  thofe  of  the  lakes ;  efpecially  that  of 
lake  Ontario.  But  there  are  now  probably  none  but 
what  are  convinced,  that  the  plan  which  has  been  laid 
and  purfued,  was,  upon  the  whole,  far  the  beil:.  The 
general,  by  thus  dividing  his  army,  and  coming  again!]; 
the  enemy  on  all  fides,  hcmm'd  them  in,  prevented 
their  efcaping,  or  difperfing  here  and  ther^  in  fmall 
parties ;  and  fo  has  accompliflied  the  whole  bunnefs 
at  once.  Whereas,  had  they  been  attacked  only  by 
the  way  of  St.  Lawrence  by  one  grand  army,  they 
would  doubtlefs  have  abandoned  Montreal  at  its  ap- 
proach ;  retreated  together  up  the  river,  where  they 
could  hardly  have  been  purfued,  or  clfe  gone  off  in 
parties  to  the  fouthward  and  weflward,  and  othf.rways, 
with  their  arms.  So  that  tho' Monrreal  had  been 
in  our  podt-fnon,  yet  the  country  midir  in  effcci:  have 
remained  (till  unfubducd.  This,  not  to  mcnricm 
fcme  other  thing?,  fcems  to  fliow,  that  that  w  hich 

.      ■  fome 


Concerning  the  ReduRion  of  Canada,  &c.    47 

fbme  perfons  pofTibly  imagined  a  more  difficult,  ex- 
penfive  and  precarious  way  of  compleating  the  re- 
du(5lion  of  Canada,  was  in  reality  the  belt  ;  perhaps 
the  only  one,  in  which  the  conqueft  could  have  beeii 
perfe£led  this  campaign. — But  I  fhall  fay  no  more  of 
what  may  feem  foreign  from  the  bufmefs  of  a  fermoti 

It  is  fufficient  to  our  prefent  purpofe,  that  God 

has  appeared  very  gracioully  for  us  in  conducing  this 
great  enterprize  to  fo  happy  a  conclufion  ;  from 
whence  we  may  reafonably  promife  ourfelves  fuch 
great  and  permanent  advantages  as  have  been  hinted 
at  above. 

But  when  I  fpeak  of  the  importance  of  this  ac- 
fjuifition,  you  will  doubtlefs  obferve,  that  I  go  wholly 
upon  the  fuppofition  that  it  will  be  retained.  What 
may  poflibly  be  hereafter  ;  what  different  turn  the 
war  may  lake  ;  what  real  occafion  and  neceflity  there 
may  be  for  relinquifhing  this,  or  any  other  conquefts, 
in  order  to  a  peace,  no  one  can  certainly  tell.  But 
while  things  continues  in  fuch  a  pofture  as  they  are  at 
prefent  thro'  the  goodnefs  of  God  ;  while  we  have  Qy 
fair  a  profpe^t  of  having  it  in  our  power,  as  we  Ihall 
on  that  fuppofion  certainly  have  a  right,  to  infift  upon 
indemnification  for  the  immenfe  expence  of  treafurc 
and  blood,  to  which  the  ambition  and  injuftice  of 
France  has  lately  put  us,  as  alfo  upon  fecurity  for 
the  future  to  thefe  american  colonies  :  while  we  have 
fuch  a  profpe^l,  I  fay,  I  thought  it  hardly  decent  to 
make  the  fuppofition  of  Canada's  ever  being  deli- 
vered up  toFrance  ;  which  might  be  looked  upon  as  a 
kind  of  trcafon.  At  lenft  it  might  betray,  either  fuch 
a  difaffc£i:ion  to  the  welfare  of  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies,  or  fuch  a  difTrull:  of  the  vvifdom  and  integrity 
oF-our  fuperiors,  as  1  wouM  not  on  any  confideration 
be  thought  capable  of     And  one  would   think  that 

the 


4^     Concerning  the  Redudlon  of  Canada,  &c. 

/ 

the  other  European  nations  fhould  all  in  general  re- 
joice to  fee  fome  bounds  fet  to  the  power,  and  ambi- 
tious views  of  France.  For,  which  of  them  has  ^e. 
not  he6i:or'd  and  threatned  in  its  turn  ?  Which  of  her 
neighbours  has  flie  not  plunderM  and  robb'd  ?  fome 
of  them  of  wealthy  cities,  fome  of  provinces,  and 
others  of  whole  countries  ?  Which  of  them  can  be 
fecure  againfl:  her  intriegues,  treachery,  and  lawlcfs 
violence,  unlefs  fhe  is  in  fome  meafure  humbled  and 
weakned  ? — There  would  doubtlefs  be  fufficient  rca- 
fon  for  a  day  of  general  thank/giving  thro'out  Europe, 
if  this  were  done  to  purpofe. 

As  was  obferved  before,  tho'  wo  cannot  tell  what 
may  yet  come  to  pafs  in  the  courfe  of  this  war,  we 
have  reafon  to  hope  from  prefent   appearances,   that 
there  will  be  no  neceflity  of  making  fuch  a  dear  and 
important  facrifice  as  that  of  Canada,  in  order  to  pro- 
cure a  peace  :  the  confequence  of  which  would  be, 
that  the  almoft  immenfe  treafure  expended  in  driving 
the  French  from  their  encroachments,  and  in  reducing 
this  country,    would  be   fcarce    better  than    thrown 
away.     The  French   would   foon   renew  their   en- 
croachments and  hoftilities,  and  fet  their  favagcs  again 
10  fcalping.     We  can  never  live  peaceably  with  ihcm 
here  as  neighbours :  For  it  is  almoll  as  impolfiblt  for 
them  to  ceafe   from  thofe  treacherous  and  wicked 
pra6lices,    to  which   they  have  been   fo  IouvT  ««  r.c- 
cudomed",  as  it  were  for  the  ''  ^Ethiopian  to  change 
his  ikin,   or  the  leopard  his  fpots".     Nor  would  the 
intereft  of  Great  liritnin  be  Icfs  afTt^led  in   the  end, 
than  that  of  her  colonics,  by  their   rcgainii^g  their 
power  and  independence  in  Canada  :   Of  which  there 
is  at  prefent,  indeed,   no  apparent  reafon    to  be  ap- 
prehenfive,  confidering  how  profptrous,  by  tlieblcf- 
liug  of  heaven,  his  majcfly's  arms  have  been  in  other 

jnr.aiiccs. 


Concerning  the  KeduBion  of  Canada,  &:c.     49 

inflances  :    For  an  almofl  uninterrupted  fcries  of  fac* 
cedes  has  attended  them  for  leveral  years  pall:. 

And  here  let  me  takeoccafion  jufl  to  mention  foma 
other  material  fuccefles  that  have  lately  crowned  the 
Britifli  arms  in  other  parts  of  the  world. 

Since  the  day  of  our  common  and  public  thankf- 
giving  on  the  furrender  of  Quebec,  ^  we  have  re- 
ceived advices  here,  of  fome  confiderable  advantages 
obtained  in  the  Eafl-Indies,in  the  reduflion  of  fevcral 
of  the  enemy's  fortreiles  and  fa^ories,  with  fome  of 
their  fettlements  there.  And  Pondicherry,  according 
to  our  lateH:  accounts,  was  the  only  place  of  which  the 
French  were  left  poflefs'd  in  thofe  parts. 

Thz  Dunkirk  fquadron  under  the  command  of  the 
valiant,  but  unfortunate  Thurot,  has  been  chiefly  ta- 
ken or  dedroyed,  after  going  thro'  a  long  feries  of 
calamities  and  difafters. 

About  the  fame  time,one  of  our  admirals  |  fell  in 
with  the  grand  fleet  of  the  enemy  from  Brefl:,  where 
it  had  been  long  preparing,  in  order,  as  was  given  out, 
to  cover  a  difcent  on  the  coafl  of  Britain  or  Ireland. 
This  fleet  was  beaten,  and  difperfed  amongfl:  the 
fhoals  upon  the  coaft  of  France  §  ;  when  five  or  fix 
capital  fliips  were  taken  anddeftroyed  :  While  a  num- 
ber of  others,  as  it  is  faid,  were  render'd  ufelefs,  by 
D  being 

*  Odlober  25,  17^9.  The  author  in  his  difcourfes  publldied 
on  that  occafion,  and  iii  the  year  preceeding.  took  notice  of 
the  moil  confiderable  and  important  fuccefles  obtained  by 
his  majefty's  arms  by  lan-l  and  fea,  (ince  the  heglnniog  of  thi? 
war.  For  which  reafon  he  does  not  here  look  any  farthei 
back  than  to  the  dute  above. 

f  Sir  Ed.  Huwke.  §  Quiheron  bay> 


50     Concerning  the  Reduction  of  Canada,  icc, 

being  oblig'd  to  fly  for  fafety  to  land,  to  rocks,  and 
into  Ihallow  rivers.  In  this  important  affair  there 
were  [omc  pretty  remarkable  circumriances.  TheBri" 
tifh  admiral's  falling  in  with  this  fleet,  was  moft  oppor- 
tune and  fea-fonablc  for  us,  as  it  was  nnexpe6tca  to 
the  enemy.  The  French  fleet  was  going  to  take  un- 
der her  convoy  a  large  number  of  Iran fports  lying  rea- 
dy in  different  ports,  after  having  gotten  out  of  Bred: 
byflealth  while  tneBririfl'i  fleet  was  v/ithdrawn.  And 
indeed  the  latter  did  not  again  fail  from  its  port  in  the 
Engli:T'  cliannel',  'rill  the  very  day  the  other  ftole  out* 
:\  circur.:;'ance  not  unworthy  of  notice,  fince, humanly 
fpea!:'ng,the  French  fleet  had  a  fair  profpe6i:  of  reach- 
ing iis  port,  or  ports,  before  it  could  be  overtaken. 
And  this  it  had  probably  done,  had  not  an  inferiorEn- 
glifli  fquadron  fallen  in  its  v/ay,  by  which  means  it 
was  retarded  for  fome  time.  This  fleet  was  fo  infe- 
rior to  the  French,  that  it  muft  in  all  probability  have 
fallen  an  eafy  conqueft  thereto.  But  at  the  in- 
flant  when  (b  unequal  an  engagement  was  to  begin-, 
appeared  admJral  LIawke  with  the  Britifli  flag,  and  a 
formidable  fleet :  Which  not  only  made  the  enemy 
glad  to  quit  their  deflin'd  prey,  but  flruck  them  with 
fuch  terror,  as  even  rendered  them  incapable  of  a  pru- 
dent and  fuccefsful  flight.  Thus  was  the  littleEnglifli 
fquadron  at  once  preferved  ;  the  defign  of  theFrench 
fleet  rendered  abortive  ;  the  great  preparations  of  the 
eneniy  for  a  defcent,infignificant;  and  their  mofl  pow- 
erful fleet  difgraeed  and  ruined  upon  their  own  coafts: 
A  mortifying  Ipe^iacle  to  the  people  !  And  upon  the 
whole,this  feems  to  have  been  almoR  a  flniflfmg  blow 
to  the  marine,  and  naval  power  of  France,  before  re- 
duced fo  low  by  repeated  difaflers  and  lofles.  In  all 
which,  the  hand  of  providence  is  very  GonfpiGuous. 


t!of2Cer?Tin^  the  ReduBion  of  CA^i^ADA,  Sec.     j'l 

We  have  lately  bad  the  report  of  the  very  (ignal  vic«- 
lory  obtained  by  his  majcfly's  ariPxy  under  prince  Fer- 
dinand,over  the. formidable  French  army  commanded 
by  marfhal  Broglio.  Which,  if  true,  v/ill  not  only 
prcferve  Hanover  a  third  time,  when  chreatned  with 
imminent  danger  ;  but  muft  have  an  happy  in- 
fluence on  the  affairs  of  his  majefly's  illuflrious  all}^ 
the  king  of  Prulfia.  But  this  important  news  does 
not  appear  to  be  fo  authentic,  that  we  may  be  juf^ified 
in  giving  fuH  credence  thereto  at  prefcntf.  And  in- 
deed, if  one  half  we  have  heard  were  known  to  be  faift, 
our  apprehenfions  for  Hanover  might  now  be  over, 
as  al fo  in  part,  thofe  for  his  Pruflian  majefly  in  this 
critical  conjuncfture.  Cur  welfare  even  here  in  Ame*- 
rica,  is  now  nearly  conne£led  with  that  of  this  illuflri- 
ous king,  and  of  his  majefiy's  Hanoverian  dominions. 
What  the  purpofes  of  heaven  are  with  refpefl  to 
them,  time  only  will  reveal.  And  if  they  ihould 
maintain  their  ground  this  year  (God  almighty  grant 
they  may!)  we  Ihould  have  good  reafbn  to  hope,  not 
only  that  this  may  prove  the  lafl:  campaign  of  thepre- 
fent  war  ;  but  that  fuch  a  peace  will  be  concluded,  as 
will  be  at  once  glorious  toGreat-Britain  and  her  allies, 
and  happy  for.all  hc-r  dependencies  ;  particularly  for 
her  colonies  in  America.  But  if,  contrary  to  our 
hopes,  the  war  fliould  dill  be  protracted, we  may  take 
it  for  granted  that  Great-Britain,  under  fo  wife,  firm 
D  2  and 

\  We  had  this  news  from  Lifbon.  It  was  reported  that  prince 
Ferdinand  had  kill'd  and  taken  about  50  000  men,  and  in- 
tlre?y  routed  the  French  army  on  the  borders  of  Hanover. 
But  we  have  fince  had  the  mortification  to  be  affurcd,  that  this 
was  a  falfe  rumour  ;  tho'  it  feems  feme  confiderable  advan- 
tages haye  been  gained  by  the  allied  army.  -And  fince  the 
delivering  this  difcourfe,  we  have  alfo  had  the  aud)eniic  news 
of  his  TrufTian  majefly's  defeating  a  large  corps  of  theAuflrian 
army  ;  killing  and  taking  about  10. 000  men,  with  near  90 
pieces  of  cannon,  ammur.ition,  &c.  &c.  A  mod  agreeable  and 
important  piece  of  iatdiigencs. 


J  2  Our  SticceJJes  tend  to  advance 

and  vigorous  an  adminiQration  as  the  prefent^will  purfe 
her  advantages  ;  and  perhaps, by  the  favour  of  heaven> 
add  Louisiana  at  lead  to  her  other  acquifiiions  :  A 
conqneft,  tho'  of  vafl:  importance,yet,  humanly  fpeak- 
ing,  of  very  litde  difficulty,  confidering  the  navai 
power  of  Britain,  and  the  aumber  of  Britiili  troops 
jiovv  in  Ameiica.  ^ 


UT  having  thus  reminded  you  of  thpfe  fuecefles 
with  which  God  has  lately  favoured  theBritifh 
arms,  more  efpecially  in  the  Gonqueft  of  Canada  ;  all 
u'hich  feem  to  promife  an  honorable  peace,  future  fe™ 
curity  to  us  here  in  Amc-iica,  and  many  advantages 
both  to  Great-Britain  and  her  colonies  ;  and  which 
therefore  demand  cur  grateful  praifes  to  tlie  fupreme 
Governor  of  the  world  :  Having  done  this,  I  fay,  let 
us  now  proceed,  as  w^as  propofed,  briefly  to  confider^ 
what  afpe£I  thefe  vifflories  and  fucceilcs  have^upon  the 
kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jefas  Chrifl: ;  its  farther  exten.- 
fion,  and  the  accompiilhment  of  thofe  glorious  things 
which  are  to  come  to  pafs  in  the  latter  days. 

IT  would  indeed  be  at  once  juil  matter  of  re- 
proach to  a  chriftian  minifter,  and  a  kind  of  affront 
to  a  chriltian  afTeinbly,  if  in  preaching  upon  fuch 
iin  occafion  as  ti  e  preftnr,  he  wholly  confined  his 
views  and  difcotrie  to  things  of  a  fecular  nature  }, 
without  confidermg  what  relation  thefe  important 
fucceilcs  have  to  Chrift's  kingdom.  This  would  be- 
tray 

*  since  this  difcourfe  wr.s  delivered,  we  hear  there  are  more 
troops  adually  embarked  for  Noah- America.  If  it  be  fo,  is 
fcenis  not  improbable  that  Louldana  may  be  the  objc(5l  of 
their  dedination  :  From  which  country,  -while  the  French 
are  pofTefi 'd  of  it,  cur  fonthcrn  colonies  wi'l  probably  vnttK 
with  diiUrbance  ;  at  lead  by  means  of  murdering  and  fcalp- 
in^  parties  fent  from  time  to  lime  upon  their  frontiers. 


the   Kingdcvi   cf    Chrift,  ^^ 

tray  in  him  a  littlenefs  and  narrownefs  of  mind,  and 
a  want  of  due  regard  to,  and  zeal  for,  the  honour  of 
God,  or  the  intereft  of  religion  in  the  world.  Ic 
would  alfo  be  treating  his  auditors  as  if  he  fuppofcd 
them  wholly  immerfed  in  worldly  cares,  without  a 
thought  of  any  thing  greater  or  better  than  a  /hort- 
liv'd  profperity  here  below  •,  which,  I  perfuade  my- 
fclf,  is  not  the  charader  of  thofe  to  whom  I  am 
fpeaking.  And  befides ;  that  pafTage  of  fcripture, 
on  which  niy  difcourfe  is  grounded,  naturally  leads 
our  thoughts  to  that  time,  when  our  Lord  fiia'ltake 
to  himfeir  his  great  power,  and  reign  as  the  king  of 
nations,  as  well  as  of  faints. 

Now  there  are  two  things  to  be  laid  down  here, 
as  principles  on  which  to  proceed,  they  being  cer- 
taiiily  and  plainly  foretold  in  the  holy  fcriptures. 
One  is.  That  God  will  at  length  in  a  mod  wonder- 
ful manner  bring  down,  humble,  and  even  dcftroy, 
that  corrupt  and  apoftate,  that  idolatrous  ajul  per- 
fccuting  church,  varioufly  delcribed  in  the  holy 
fcriptures  \  particularly  under  the  charader  of 
a  woman^  "  having  a  golden  cup  in  her  hand, 
full  of  abominations  and  filthinefs  of  her  fornica- 
tions. And  upon  her  forehead  was  a  name  written, 
MYSTERY,  Babyionthe  great,  the  mother  of  harlots, 
and  abominations  of  the  earth"r — "  The  great 
wliore,  which  corrupteth  the  earth  with  her  fornica- 
tion.* *§—''  And  in  her  was  found  the  blood  of  pro- 
phets, and  of  faints,  and  of  all  that  were  Piain  upon 
the  earth."*  That  that  apofiate,  antichriftian  church, 
or  kingdom,  which  is  thus  emblematically  defcribcd, 
is  to  have  her  plagues  made  wonderful,  and  to  be 
finally  brought  to  ruin,  is  moil  manifeft  from  the 
facred  fcriptures.  Nur  can  proteftants  In  this  ^ge, 
one  would  think,  be  at  any  great  lols,  what  church, 
or  where  ihe  is C   3  Th3 

f  Re\r.  XVII.  4    5.    §   Ch:  XIX.  2.    *  Cha.  XVI!I.  24. 


54  Our   Succeffes  iend  to   advance 

The  other  thing  alluded  to  above,  is.  That  the 
gofpel  of  the  kingdom  is  not  only  to  be  ^'  preached 
for  a  witnefs"  an:ong  all  nations,  but  to  be  actually 
eftablifl-ied  thro'out  the  world,  amongfb  Jews  and 
Gentiles.  For  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world' are  to 
become  the  kin^ioms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  ChriO: ; 
and  he  fliill  reign  forever  and  ever."}]  The  fcrip- 
tures  are  full  of  prophecies  to  -tliis  purpofe  ;  which 
predi(5lions  remain  to  be  fulBlled,  either  fooner  or 
later,  unlcfs  v/e  have  believed  fables  inftead  of  the 
word  of  God,  who  cannot  lie. 

Now  we  may  confidcr  the  great  fucceflcs  which 
God  has  given  to  the  Britifh  arms  in  the  prefent  war, 
as  tending,  in  fome  meafure,  to  the  accomplifhmenc 
of  both  thsfe  events ;  the  deftruclion  of  the  papal 
power,  and  the  efiablifhing  of  chriftianity  thro'ouC 
the  v/orid« 

Foil  firfc,  as  to  the  former  of  them  :  Thefe  fuc- 
celTes  have  been  obtained  by  a  proteftant  king  and 
nation,  ngainll  the  greatefb  and  moft  powerful  na- 
tion in  t::c  communion  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
The  French  monarch  is  unqueflionably  the  moft  po- 
tent of  thofe  kings  who  have  ''  given  their  kingdom 
unto  the  bead."  But  his  pov/cr  is  now  much  di- 
minifljed,  and  feems  in  a  fair  v;ay  to  be  farther  re- 
duced. And  this  will  be  in  effeft  diminlPning  that 
of  the  roman  pontiff.  Every  new  acceiTion  of  power 
to  our  own,  and  to  other  proteftant  kings  and  flates^ 
will  alfo  tend  to  the  rcdutflion  of  that  of  RomCo 
It  may  be  farther  obferved  here,  that  as  learning  in- 
rreaf'5,  and  runs  to  and  fro  in  the  earth,  the  influence 
and  authority  of  the  pope  declines,  as  the  nauira! 
3nd  neccHary  confcquence  thereof:  And  it   is  now 

far 
jj  R.ev.  XI.    15, 


the  Kingdom  cf  Chrijl,  ^y 

far  lefs,  even  in  moft  or  all  roman  catholic  countries, 
than  it  was  fome  centuries  fmce.     It  has  declined 
fail  fince  the  beginning  of  the  reformation  •,  when, 
and  fincc,  divers  kings  and   nations,   and   our  own 
among  the  firft,  came  to  an  open  rupture  with  the 
pope;  utterly  difowning  his  jurildidion  over  them* 
The  king  of  Portugal  has  alfj  lately  come  to  fuch  a 
rupture  with  him,  as  is  not  likely  to  be  foon  healed  ; 
and  as  may,  not  improbably,  ifiue  in   the  pope's 
lofing  forever  all  authority  in  that  kingdom,  how- 
ever devoted  the  common  people  may  be  to  him  at 
prefenc.     Nor  would  it  be  very  ftrange  if  the  king 
of  Spain   fhould  foon  break  with   him  alfo  :  Since 
the  jefuits,  moft  probably   with  the  pope's  conni- 
vance, if  not  by  his  diredion,  have  been  plotting  a- 
gainft  that  crown,  as  well  as  the  king  of  Portugal ; 
and  have  acflually  been  carrying  on  a  war  againll 
the  fubie6i:s  of  both,   in   South   America.     But   be 
that  as  it  will,  it  feems  morally  impofTible,  confider- 
jng  the  progrefs  which  learning  has  made,  and  is  ftill 
making,  but  that  the  eyes  of  all  the  kings,  dates,  and 
people  in    general,  now  in  the  communion  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  muft  before  long  be  opened.  And 
when  they  fhail  plainly  fee,  how  groQy  they  have 
been  deluded,  and  how  impudently  tyrannized  over 
by  her,  they  will  of  courfe  bircome  her  enraged  ene- 
mies •,  and  be  avenged  on  her,    as  many  have  been 
already.     For,  in  the  language  of  infpiration,  "  Thefe 
'*  (iiall  hate  the  whore,  and  fhall  make  her  defolate, 
'^  and  naked,  and  fhall  eat  her  fleOi,  and  burn  her 
*'  v/ich  Hre.     For  God  hath   put  in   their  hearts  to 
*'  fulfil  his  will,  and  to  agree,  and  give  their  king- 
^'*  dom  Tinto  the  beafl:,  until  the  words  of  God  fnall 
*'  be  fulfilled.     And  the  woman  which  thou  fav/eft, 
*^'  is  tjiat  great  city,  which  reigneth  over  the  king's 
*'  of  the  earth."*— -This   remarkable  prophecy   is 
D  .|  paiily 

*|levr.  XVII   16.  17-  i8. 


5^  Our  Succejfes  tend  to  advance 

partly  fulfilled  already,  in  the  breaking  off  of  fb 
many  kings  and  dates  from  the  church  of  Rome  ; 
and  their  becoming  enemies,  and  fore  fcourges  to 
her  pride  and  impiety ;  of  which  nations  our  own  is 
the  principal.  And  we  may  reft  aflurcd,  that  this 
prediction  fliall  in  the  whole  of  it,  and  poflibly  be- 
fore long,  be  punctually  accomplifhed.  In  the 
profpecl  of  which  final  ruin  ccming  upon  the  great 
whore,  or  myftical  Babylon,  the  apoftie  John  broke 
forth  thus — "  Rejoice  over  her  thou  heaven,  and  ye 
*'  holy  apoftles  and  prophets  ;  for  God  hathaveng- 
*'  ed  you  on  her.  And  a  mighty  angel  took  up  a 
"  ftone  like  a  great  millftone,  and  caft  it  into  the 
"  fea,  faying,  Thus  with  violence  fhall  that  great 
'^  city  Babylon  be  thrown  down,  and  fhall  be  found 
'^'  no  more  at  ali."§ 

But  fc^condly,  as  to  the  propagation  and  eftablidi- 
ment  of  the  gofct-I  amongft  all  nations:  Our  mili- 
tary fuccefTes  may  be  confidered  as  one  ftep  tov/ards 
the  accomphfhing  of  that  great  event  alji).  Not 
that  tht^  gofpel  of  Chrift  is  to  be  propagated  by 
force  of  arms  \  but  thefe  fuccefTes  may  in  fome  mea- 
lure  open  and  prepare  the  v/ay  for  fpreading  it,  by 
methods  fuitable  to  the  genius  and  defign  of  this 
religion.  *'  The  weapons  of  our  warfare  are  not 
"  carnal  •,  but  mighty  thro'  God*' — And  '*  the 
*'  fervant  of  the  Lord  muft  not  drive,  but  be 
*'  gende  unto  all  men  •,  patient,  in  meeknefs  in- 
"  Itructing  thofe  that  oppofe  themfelves,  if  God 
^^  perad venture  will  give  them  repentance  to  the 
*'  acknowledging  of  the  truth." 

There  are  many  heathen  here  in  America,  who 

have  long  had  fome  inccrcourfe  both   with  Us  and 

i'h$ 
§  Rev.  XYIII.  20;  21. 


the  Kingdom  of  Chr'ift,  57 

the  French.  We  have  heretofore  made  attempts, 
by  the  blefling  of  heaven  to  ''  turn  them  from  dark- 
nefs  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  fatan  unto 
God."  But  chefe  our  attempts  have  not  been  at- 
tended with  any  great  fuccefs ;  with  lefs  indeed,  than 
the  endeavours  of  the  French  milTionaries,  I  had 
almoft  faid,  to  make  them  apoftatize  from  heathcn- 
ifm  to  popery.  Many  difcouragements  and  obfta- 
cles  have  been  in  the  way  hitherto  ;  fomc  of  which 
are  now  removed  And  there  feems  to  be  a  fairer 
profped:,  by  the  blefTing  of  God,  of  doing  fome- 
thing  confiderable  to  this  end,  than  ever  there  has 
been  in  times  pall ;  provided  there  be  wifdom,  in 
conjunflion  with  a  proper  zeal,  in  undertaking  and 
profecuting  fo  good  a  defign.  God  hath  in  fome 
fenfe  already  made  known  his  falvation,  and  openly 
fhewed  his  righteoufnefs  in  the  fight  of  thele  hea- 
then, by  the  vidtories,  and  great  fuccefies  which  he 
hath  given  us  over  our  enemies  in  thefe  parts.  So 
that  we  may  fuppofe,  they  will  be  under  lefs  tempta- 
tion to  fay  now,  than  heretofore,  "  Where  is  their 
God  ?"  The  prejudices  Vv'hich  many  of  them  have 
imbibed  againft  us  and  our  religion,  by  means  of 
the  French  miflionaries  reprefenting  all  proteftants 
to  them,  as  bad  or  v/orfe  than  atheids,  may  now 
in  fome  meafure  be  abated  :  At  leaft  we  fliall  have 
a  better  opportunity,  and  greater  advantages,  for  re- 
moving thefe  prejudices,  than  formerly  -,  and  to 
conviBce  all  thofe  pagans  who  have  had  any  know- 
ledge of  Us  and  of  theFrench,that  ourGod  is  indeed 
in  heaven  •,  and  that  it  is  no  other  than  he,  whofc 
right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm  hath  given  u?,  or  ra- 
tlier  gotten  to  liimlelf,  the  vidory.  They  will  pro- 
bably be  influenced  in  fom.e  degree  to  think  favour- 
ably of  us  and  our  religion,  by  our  great  fuccefies, 
snd  triumphs  over  thofe  v»Ii^  have  ever  rec)rcfeDt- 

cd 


yS  Our  Succejfes  fend  la  advance 

ed  us  as  the  enemies  of  the  true  God  ;  and  to  whofe 
vain  boafts  of  thtir  being  his  peculiar  favourites,  to 
whofe  thicatnings  againfi:  us,  and  repeated  conftant 
treacheries,  they  have  been  no  ftrangers ;  and  many 
of  them  indeed,  the  inif  ruments  of  their  wicked  and 
villainous  defigns. 

.  Tx5  thefe  things  it  may  be  added,  that  thefe  nu- 
merous tribes  ot  heathen,  when  they  find  thrmfeWes 
wholly  dependent  upon  us,  as  they  miilf  be,  will 
probably  become  in  all  refpeds  morefubmilTive  and 
tradable  than  they  ufed  to  be,  cither  to  us  or  to 
the  French,  in  times  pad.  I  hey  could  formerly 
change  fides,  and  run  from  one  to  the  other  on  any 
trifling  occafion  ;  and  held, as  it  were,  the  ballanceof 
power  betw^een  us  in  their  own  hands.  In  thefe  cir- 
cumftances  they  thought  they  had  a  right  to  be 
courted  by  bodi,  as  they  adlually  were :  Which 
made  them,  if  poiTible,  more  proud^  infolent  and 
barbarous  than  they  naturally  are,  as  well  as  indocile 
to  the  lad  degree.  BiU  their  having  now  only  one 
European  people  on  .which  to  depend  for  neceflary 
fupplies,  if  a  reafonable,  jull  and  wife  ufe  is  made  of 
this  advantage,  it  will  without  doubt  give  us  fuch 
an  afcenJency  over  them,  as  will  greatly  ficilitate 
%:^t  work  of  humanizing  and  chrifiianizing  then). 

We  find,  agreeably  to  v»diat  has  been  ffid  above, 
that  the  Six  Nations  are  within  a  few  years  become 
more  tractable  than  they  ufed  to  be  •,  I  mean,  fince 
they  have  feen  the  French  power  upon  the  decline 
here,  and  in  a  fair  way  to  be  entirely  deftroyed. 
Thofe  of  them  wfio  attended  general  Amherst  in- 
.to  Canada,  ii  is  faid,  were  very  docile,  fjbjecl  to 
difcipline  and  command.  Yea,  they  were  tutor'd 
by  him  into  i-^iT\z  regard   to  clemency  and  mercy  ; 

to 


the  Kingdom  of  Chr'tfl,  ^^ 

to  which  they  were  heretofore  almofl:  intire  Gran- 
gers. We  are  informed,  that  when  they  had  taken 
feveral  hundred  prifoncrs  on  Montreal,  whoexped- 
cd  nothing  but  to  die  in  tortures,  the  favages  re- 
lieved their  anxiety  by  telling  them,  their  orders 
were,  not  to  put  any  of  their  captives  to  death-,  tho% 
as  they  added,  the  French  ufed  to  order  their  In- 
dians to  kill  all  that  fell  ir.to  their  hands.  A  juft  and 
fcvere  reproach;  which  fhews.vve  need  not  defpair  of 
humanizing  and  chriftianizing  the  American  favages  v 
and  which  mud  have  fiung  their  prifoners  to  the 
foul,  if  they  were  not  pafl:  feeling  !  And  how  agree- 
able ?  how  edifying  muft  it  have  been,  to  hear  thcfe 
favages  thus  reproaching  thefe  good  catholic  chrif- 
tians,  the  fubjeds  of  his  }7;oJl  chrijiian  majefly,  for 
their  barbarity  •,  and  trying  as  it  were,  by  their  own 
better  example,  to  infufe  into  them  fome  fenfe  of 
humanity  !  And,  by  the  way,  it  may  be  hoped  that 
the  French  themfelves  who  fliail  remain  in  Canada, 
or  at  leaft:  their  pofter'ity,  will  become  proteftants, 
provided  prudent  and  proper  methods,  confiflent 
with  jufiice  and  humanity,are  taken  to  make  them  fo. 

You  fee  from  what  has  been  f^.id,  that  we  have 
now  more  encouragement  than  ever  to  attempt  the 
chriftianizing  the  American  heathen  •,  fome  of  the 
c^bRacles  thereto  being  removed  by  the  late  fignal 
fuccefks  of  his  Majeiiy's  arms.  And  v/ere  this  ac- 
com>plifhed,  it  would  be  at  once  a  con fiderable  en- 
largement of  Chriirs  kingdom,  and  partly  the  ac- 
compiinimer^t  of  that  promiie,  that  the  uttermofi 
parts  ()f  the  earth  Pnould  be  \\\%  pv^iTt^ffion.  Cur 
fuccvfies  in  the  Eail:  Indies,  and  rite  growth  of  our 
icttlecnents  there,  where  the  natives  are  fJ-iO  more 
numerous,  and  Iffs  favr.ge  than  in  America,  bids 
fair  to  be  a  m^eans  in  time  of  fpreading  chrillianity 


^o  Our  SucceJJes  tend  to  advance 

in  thofe  parts  alfo — And  upon  the  whole  (for  I  may 
not  enlarge^  if  we  attentively  look  round  the  world  \ 
if  we  confider  the  increafe  of  knowledge,  both  reli- 
gious and  natural,  ever  fince  the  reformation  began  ; 
and  that  it  is  growing  more  and  corKmon  in  all 
civilized  nations,  whereas  ir  lafed  berore  to  be  con- 
fined to  a  few  perfons  \  if  we  reflect  on  the  drop- 
ping off  of  one  kingdom  ?n:i  flute  after  another 
from  the  church  of  Rome  •,  if  we  confider  the  great 
increafe  of  navigation  and  commerce,  carried  oa 
from  Europe  into  all  parts  of  the  known  world, 
more  efpecially  by  proteftant  nations  •,  and  the  many 
faflories,  fettlements  and  colonies  from  chriftendom, 
cftabliilied  in  the  mod  remote  countries  •,  if  we  re- 
fled:  on  thefe  thing?,  1  fay,  not  to  mention  any 
thing  at  prefent  of  the  order  of  the  prophecies, 
there  feems  to  be  fonie  reafon  to  hope  the  time 
is  not  far  dillant,  when  both  the  roman  papacy  fhail 
come  to  nothing,  and  the  gofpel  Ihall  be  propagated 
throughout  the  world  ♦,  the  knowledge  of  God  co- 
vering the  whole  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  feas. 
Though,  by  the  way,  whenever  thefe  things  (hall 
be  ^ccomplifhed,  whether  fooner  or  later,  they  will 
not  probably  be  effcded  wholly  by  natural  and  hu- 
man means :  But  by  them  in  conjunflion  widi  the 
extraordinary  effufion  of  the  Floly  Spirit  -,  wit'.i  the 
moil  figna!,  undeniable  manifeiiations  of  God's 
power  and  grace  in  favour  of  his  true  worfhippers, 
zvi'^  the  equally  vifible  manifeftarions  of  his  v.-rath, 
^ndi  righteous  difplealure  againll  ethers ;  efpecially 
ihofe  who  wilrully  uphoki  errors  and  corruptions 
in  Ins  church :  For  this  is  undeniably  the  fcripture 
account  of  the  matter,  f 

A 

•J-  Some  of  ibe  obflacles  hitherto  in  tlic  way  of  g^ofpelizing  the 
favage  oittions  in  Nort)i  Anisiitt^  bein;',  now  removed,  it  m^y 

%2  'ui>v>zt  ti:«t  :he  richt  hoaoarubjt  aad  revertiid  Society 


the  Kingdom  of  Chri/l.  6% 

A  Few  rcPxCxions   on  the  prefent   rubje(5l   and 
occafion,  muft  now  conclude  this  difcourfe^ 
almoft  too  long,  I  fear,  already. 

It 

for  propagating  the  go fp el  in  foreign  parts,  will,  amongft 
other  objeds  of  their  charitable  attention,  hereafter  make 
this  a  principal  one.  And  it  was  with  great  pleafure,  that 
the  author  of  this  difcourfe  lately  read  the  following  pafTage 
in   Dr.  Ellis's  fermon   before    that  venerable  .$'(?<:/>/;' the 

!aft  year,  at  their  anniverfary  meeting r-**  Out   of  grati- 

•'  tude  for  this  wonderful  goodnefs  of  God  to  us,"  fays  hi^ 
Lordfliip,  •*  we  ought  freely  to  contribute  to  the  advance- 
**  mcnt  of  his  glory,  which  he  gracioufly  places  in  the  we'- 
**  fare  of  mankind.     And  we  are  dircdcd  to  fit  objects 

**  of  our  charity There  are  on  the  borders  of  our  na- 

*'  tional  colonies  and  plantations  in  America,  multitudes  of 
**  favages  immerfed  in  grofs  ignorance  and  fuperflirion,  who 
**  either  have  not  heard  at  all  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrifl:,  or  at 
**  lead  are  very  far  from  a  competent  knowledge,  and  due 
**  pradice  of  it.  For  thefe,  without  (Question,  we 
*<  ought  to  have  a  proper  concern,  and  to  ufe  our  endea* 
**  Tours  for  their  effedual  converfion,  ss  there  may  be  op- 
♦*  portunity."—         Dr.  Ellis,  Lord  Bp.  of  St.  David's, 

Wc  may  almofl  aflure  ourfelves,  that  this  very  important  and 
feafonahle  hmt  of  his  Lordfhip,  will  have  its  due  weigh? 
with  the  Society  ;  and  confcquently,  that  thefe  American 
favages  will  not  be  fo  mu"ch  forgotten  and  neole(51ed  as  they 
have  been  heretofore.  All  x.h^  good  people  in  New  England, 
where  the  gofpel  has  been  generally  fo  well  preached  ever 
fince  its  fettlement,  would  doubtlefs  rejoice  to  fee  fuch  large 
fums  as  are  annually  expended  in  fupporting  cpifcopal  mif- 
iions  here,  applied  to  the  carrying  on  this  good  work  a- 
mongft  the  heathen,  *'  who  kaow  not  God."  In  New-Eng- 
land only, near  30  of  thffc  miflions  (befidcsfchods)  are  now 
maintained  at  the  charge  of  that  venerable  Society  :  The 
members  whereof  can, however  certainly  have  no  z'ienus  in  the 
particular  applications  of  their  own  ar^d  otiicrs  charity,  but 
what  are  worthy  of  perfons  of  the  greateft  fidelity,  catho- 
licifm  and  honor,  lir'd  with  a  truly  primitive  zeal  to  propa- 
gate/?r/?v/7it\?  clriftianity,  and  only  that.  TIio'  it  is  pro- 
bable that  they  have  been  grofly  impofed  upon  by  falfe  re- 
prefeniations  of  rhe  fUtc  of  reii^ien  m  ihtie  parts  ;  which 

has 


62  KefleBions  on  the  Occafioiu 

IT  becomes  us  to  be  fincereJy  and  devoutly  thank- 
ful to  almighty  God,  who  hath  delivered  us  from 
our  enemies  in  thefe  parts,  and  crowned  the  arms  of 
our  king  with  fo  many  fucceffesand  vidlories.  VYe 
have  abundant  caufe  for  gratitude,  both  on  tempo- 
ral and  fpiritual  accounts :  For  both  our  civil  and 
religious  privileges  are  fecured  to  us  by  thefe  fuc- 
ceffes  ;  ?.nd  there  is  a  fair  profpect,  that  both  we  and 
our  pofterity  may  poffefs  this  good  land  in  great 
peace  and  profperity.  Ltt  us  be  admoniflied  to 
make  it  manifefl:,  that  we  have  a  proper  fenfe  of 
God's  undeferved  goodnefsto  us,  by  forfaking  all 
our  evil  pradices  •,  whatever  is  dilpleafing  in  his 
fight,  and  ferving  him  in  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs 
according  to  the  gofpel  of  his  Son  .*  As  free,  and 
not  ufing  our  liberty  for  a  cloke  of  malicioufntfs, 
but  as  the  fervants  of  God.  "  For  fo  is  the  will  of 
God,  that  with  well-doing  we  may  put  to  filence 
the  ignorance  of  foolifb  men."  The  praifesof  our 
lips,  even  tho'  we  fing  unto  the  Lord  "  a  new 
fong,"  without  the  obedience  of  our  lives,  will  be 
a  very  inadequate  return  to  him  for  the  many  and 
great  mercies  wliich  he  hath  bellowed  upon  us,  up- 
on our  king  and  nation.  Let  us  therefore  keep  all 
his  holy  commandn:ients ;  efpecially  let  us  do  juftly, 
love  mercy,  and  v/alk  humbly  with  our  God. 

Let  us  moreover,  in   this  way   of  well-doing, 
place  our  hope  and  trud   in  God  for  the  continued 
fmiles  of  his  providence  upon   us,  upon  the  Britifh 
counfels,  government  and  arm>s,  till  the  prefent  ca- 
lamitous 
h«s  been  tlie  occsfion   of  their  employing  fo  much  of  their 
charit 'ble  c-ue  abokU  thofe  wlio  {o  litile  needed  it,  to    the 
negl  t'^  of  iliofe  wlo  were    pcrilhing  for   vv^pt    of  it  :   For 
which   inipofiiions,    abufes    and    miir^pplicsticns,    their   de- 
ceive! s  arc  3nf\vci.ahle  ;  if  ret  to  ihtrn,   \et  ceiiaiiiJy  to  an 

WlCii.i-iJ.     AUTHORITY. 


Refleciions  on  the  Occasion,    .  ^3 

iamitoiis  war  is  brought  to  a  happy  conclufion :  And 
not  only  fo,  but  till  all  the  enemies  of  our  holy  re- 
ligion ore  either  brought  to  repentance,  or  to  ruin-, 
and  the  gofpel  of  peace  fhall  every  where  prevail. 
*'  It  is  a  righteous  thing  with  God  to  recom- 
**  pence  tribulation  to  them  that  trouble"  his  faith- 
ful and  obedient  people.  And  we  may  look  upori 
our  late  vidories  and  fuccefles,  in  conjunction  with 
fome  other  things,  as  pledges  and  earnefts  of  the 
final  triumph  of  the  church  of  Chrift  over  all  its 
enemies.  Tho'  they  were  not,  I  fuppofe,  particu- 
larly pointed  at  in  any  of  the  prophecies ;  yet  wc 
may  look  upon  them  as  a  partial  accomplifhment 
of  God's  general  promifes  of  dehveranee  and  falva- 
tion  to  his  people,  and  his  threatnings  againft  the 
enemies,  at  lead  the  corruptors,  of  his  gofpel.  Thej 
fhould  therefore  encourage  us  to  hope  in  him  for 
the  entire  and  complete  fulfilment  of  both  ;  when 
the  juft  fhall  be  eftablifhed,  and  "  the  wickednefsof 
*'  the  wicked  fhall  come  to  an  end." 

How  folid  a  foundation  have  the  true  worfhip- 
pers  of  God  according  to  the  gofpel,  for  peace  and 
compofureof  mind,  in  refieding  on  his  fuperintend- 
ing  providence  amidft  all  the  wars  and  commotions 
of  the  nations,  and  all  the  revolutions  in  ftates  and 
kingdoms  ?  The  righteous  are  ftill  fecure  under  the 
fhadow  of  the  Almighty.  And  thefe  changes  and 
revolutions,  when  the  kingdoms  are  moved,  are  in 
effe(5t  only  God's  overturning,  overturning,  over- 
turning, until  He  fhall  come  in  his  kingdom,  whofe 
right  it  is  -,  and  every  tongue  fhall  confefs  him  to  be 
Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  theFathcr.  '•  Therefore 
will  not  we  fear,  tho'  the  earth  be  removed,  and  tho' 
the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midfl  of  the  fea  ; 
Tha'  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled ,  the' 

ths 


6^  'RefleBions  on  the  Occafion. 

the  mcuntains  (hake  with  the  fwelling  thereof— 
There  is  a  ri^er,  the  ftreams  whereof  fhall  make 
glad  the  city  of  God  ;  the  holy  place  of  the  taber- 
nacles of  the  mofl:  High-  God  is  in  the  midft  of 
her  ;  fhe  (hall  not  be  moved  :  God  fhall  help  her, 
and  that  right  early."  * 

While  we  praife  God  for  the  late  favourable, 
and  very  fignal  appearances  of  his  providence,  in 
caufing  us  to  fee  our  defire  upon  vur  enemies,  we 
fhould  beware  of  every  thing  tl:at  has  a  tendency  to 
fruftrate  the  defigns  of  his  goodnefs  '-owards  us,  and 
to  turn  his  bleflings  into  curfcs  ;  paiticuJrTly  oi  pride, 
effeminacy  and  luxury.  Thtfe  are  commonly  the 
attendants  of  peace,  outward  profpcjity,  ric-^es  and 
fecurity  j  and  therefore  ought  to  be  particularly 
guarded  againft.  When  Jefhurrn  ofoid  waxed  far, 
then  he  kicked,  and  forgat  the  God  that  *'  rode  up- 
on the  heavens  in  his  help,  and  in  h-.s  excellency  up- 
on the  fky."  And  thus  it  often  comes  to  pafs,  that 
even  the  profperity  of  fools  dciiroyeth  them.  All 
hiftory,  ancient  and  modern,  Ucred  and  profane, 
is  a  proof  of  thefe  things ;  and  (hould  ferve  for  a 
warning  to  us.  The  Periians,  Greeks  and  Romans, 
amongit  innumerable  other  nations,  were  fuccefTive- 
ly  examples  of  the  fatal  confequences  of  great  prof- 
perity without  wifdom  and  virtue. 

During  the  time  of  ancient  Carthage,  the  onlf 
dangerous  neighbour  and  rival  of  Rome,  when  the 
conqueft  of  the  former  was  meditated  by  the  latter, 
there  was  a  debate  in  the  roman  fenate,  whether 
this  were  expedient  or  not,  if  praclicable.  While 
fome  thought  it  would  be  equally  glorious  and  hap- 
hay  for  Rome  to  crufh  the  only  dangerous  rival  ot 

her 
*  Pfalm  XLYI, 


'Refleciwus  on  the  Occafiofi,  6^ 

htr  power  and  greatnefs,  others  were  apprehenfive 
of  the  confequenccs  thereof.  They  feared  left  they 
fhould  by  means  of  fuch  a  conqueft,  and  the  peace, 
wealth  and  fecurity  naturally  following,  become 
luxurious,  effeminate  and  corrupt,  to  their  own  de- 
ftru(ftion  in  the  end.  This  proved  no  imaginary  or 
groundlcfs  fear  :  When  Carthage  was  no  more,  and 
Rome  had  fubdued  all  her  neighbouring  enemies, 
fhe  feemed  indeed  for  a  while  to  be  more  happy 
than  ever :  But  in  procels  of  time,  riches  and  fecu- 
rity produced  the  moft  fatal  effects ;  the  moft  ex- 
travagant luxury,  venality,  and  a  total  depravation 
of  manners.  And  when  her  citizens  had  no  longer 
any  foreign  enemy  to  fear,  they  fell  into  violent 
faftions,  contentions^  and  civil  wars.  They  loft 
their  liberty  in  the  end  ;  became  wretched  by  means 
of  their  own  profperity  and  greatnefs ;  and  fo  the 
roman  power  was  deftroyed.  Thus  did  luxury,  the 
moft  formidable  enemy  to  any  ftate  when  it  becomes 
common,  invade  and  triumph  over  ancient  Rome, 
which  had  triumphed  over  all  her  other  enemies  j 
hereby  fully  revenging  on  her,  not  only  the  fall  of 
Carthage,  but  of  a  conquered  world,  f 

Something  not  wholly  unlike  to  this,  may  pof^ 
fibly  befall  us  in  time^  the  American  Carthage  being 
fubdued,  unlefs  God  fhould  give  us  the  wifdom  to 
avoid  thofe  rocks  and  fhelves  on  which  lb  many 
have  fplit,  and  fuffered  a  wretched  (hipwrack.  Di* 
vine  providence  has  fet  up  beacons  and  land-marks 
in  every  age  and  quarter  of  the  world  for  our  warn- 
ing and  diredion  ;  and  if  we  do  not  take  due  no- 
tice of  them,  our  deftruflion  will  be  almoft  certain,, 

E  while, 

t  — — ^— -^ Saevior  armis 

Luxuria  Incubult,  ?i^Uim<^ue  ulcifcitur  oibcni. 


if 

66  RefleBions  on  the  Occafion. 

while,  as  an  aggravation  of  it,  we  fliall  have  no 
claim  even  to  pity. 

But  to  draw  to  a  conckiflon  :  While  we  blefs 
God  for  our  repeated  and  great  fuccefTes  againft  our 
heathen,  and  other  idolatrous  enemies,  let  us  take 
heed  that  we  ourfelvesdo  not  depart  from  the  plain, 
fimple  doflrine  and  worfhip  of  the  gofpel,  or  con- 
form to  any  of  the  corrupt  principles  and  modes  of 
worfhip  eftablirtied  in  the  world.  We  ought  not 
to  leave  the  clear  light  of  revelation,  and  the  "  fure 
word  of  prophecy,"  to  run  after  the  ignes  fatui  oi 
human  creeds,  which  appeared  in  the  dark  and  cor- 
rupt times  of  the  church,  and  have  ever  fince  con- 
tributed more  or  lefs  to  miflead  the  chiiftian  world. 
It  becomes  us  to  adhere  to  the  holy  fcriptures  as  our 
only  rule  of  faith  and  pradice,  difcipline  and  wor- 
fhip. The  "  mother  of  harlots"  has  many  daugh- 
ters in  chriftendom  ;  "  all  nations  have  drank" 
more  or  lefs,  "  of  the  wine  of  the  wrath  of  her  for- 
*'  nication."*  There  has  indeed  been  a  great  re- 
formation in  many  nations  from  fome  of  the  groffer 
errors,  fuperftitions  and  corruptions  introduced  by 
the  papacy,  and  ftill  upheld  in  the  church  of  Rome. 
But  in  what  country,  in  what  nation,  is  the  refor- 
mation complete  P  In  what  national,  or  even  pro- 
vincial church,  are  not  fome  of  thefe  errors  and  cor- 
riiptions  found  ?  It  is  worthy  of  obfervation,  that 
immediately  after  St.  John  heard  a  mighty  angel 
proQounce  the  fail  and  utter  ruin  of  myftical  Baby- 
lon, he  "  heard  another  voice  from  heaven,  fay- 
''  ing.  Come  out  of  her,  my  people,  that  ye  be  not 
*'  partakers  of  her  fins,  and  that  ye  receive  not  of 
*'  her  plagues."  X  It  nearly  concerns  all  thofe  who 
flill  any  ways  fymbolize  with  the  leader  in  the  grand 

apodacy, 
*  Revel.  XVIII.  3.         J  Chap.  XVIII.  Tcr.  4. 


Re/leBions  on  the  Occafion.  67 

apoftacy,  ferioufly  to  attend  to  this  divine  admoni- 
tion. There  is  one  who  walketh  in  the  midft  of  the 
golden  candlefticks,  holding  the  ftars  in  his  right 
hand ;  whofe  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire,  and  his 
voice  as  the  found  of  many  waters:  "  And  all  the 
"  churches  (hall  know,"  faith  he,  "  that  I  am  he 
*'  which  fearcheth  the  reins  and  hearts ;  and  1  will 
*'  give  unto  every  one  of  you  according  to  his 
*'  works."-f  His  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
ere  long  thoroughly  purge  his  floor,  his  church  and 
kingdom,  of  thofe  numerors  errors  and  abufes  which 
are  found  in  difFerents  parts  of  it.  And  altho'  thcfe 
errors  and  corruptions  are  perhaps  even  gloried  in 
by  fome  churches  as  their  diflinguiflVing  ornam.ents 
and  excellencies,  the  breath  of  the  Lord  fhall  one 
day  puff  them  all  away  like  chaff  and  rubbifh,  with 
the  wilful  authors  and  upholders  of  them,to  be  con- 
fumed  in  the  fire  of  his  indignation.  They  alone, 
who  worfhip  the  Father  in  fpiric  and  in  truth, 
fhall  be  efl:abli(hed.  Chrifl:ianity,  long  obfcur'd  and 
difgraced  by  the  additions  which  human  pride,  hu- 
man folly  and  wickednefs,  have  made  to  it,  fnall  at 
length  be  refl:ored  to  its  primitive  flmplicity,  beauty 
and  glory,  and  become  a  praife  in  the  whole  earth.  § 

E  2  Tho' 

t  Rev.  II.   3. 

§  **  We  have  Mofes  and  the  prophets,  and  apoflles,  and  the 
**  word  of  Chrift  himlelf ;  and  if  we  v/ill  not  hear  them, 
**  we  fhall  be  more  inexcufable  than  the  Jews.  For  the 
**  prophets  and  apoftles  have  foretold,  that  as  Ifrael  often 
**  revolted  and  brake  the  covenant,  and  upon  repentance 
**  renewed  it  ;  fo  there  fhould  be  a  falling  away  among  the 
**  Chriftians,  foon  after  the  days  of  the  apoHIes  :  and  that 
*'  in  the  latter  days  God  .would  deftroy  the  impenitent  re- 
**  volters,  and  make  a  new  covenant  with  his  people.  And 
*'  the  giving  ear  to  the  prophets  is  ?i  fun daviental  char ci^er 
**  of  the  true  church. — The  authority  cf  emperors,  kiig? 
V-  and  princes  \%  hyraan.  The  authority  of  councils,  fymds, 

*'  bj/ha|*.sj^ 


it  KefleBions  on  the  Occafmu 

Tho'  heaven  and  earth  (hould  pafs  away  and  be 
diiTolvcd,  the  word  of  the  Lord  Ihall  not  pvifs  away, 
till  every  promile  and  every  threacning  thereof  is  ful- 
filled. '^  This,"  to  adopt  the  language  ot  the  pro- 
phet, "  This  is  the  purpofe  that  is  purpofed  upon 
the  whole  earth  *,  and  this  is  the  hand  that  is  ftretch- 
ed  out  upon  all  nations.  For  the  Lord  of  tlofts 
hath  purpofed,  and  who  (hall  diiannul  it  ?  and  his 
hand  is  ftretched  out,  and  whofhall  turn  it  back  ?"* 
Tremble!  ye  avowed  enemies,  and  all  ye  wilful  per- 
verters  of  the  gofpel,  or  upholders  of  error  and  fu- 
perftition  in  the  church  of  Chrift,  to  fubferve  the 
ends  of  your  own  vain  ambition  and  fecular  interefts : 
Your  perdition  lingereth  net  !  And  life  up  your 
heads  with  joy,  ye  finct^re  followers  of  the  Lamb  of 
God  :  For  your  redemption  draweth  nigh  !  And  to 
encourage  all  fuch  to  adhere  lieadfaflly  to  the  faith 
and  worfhip  of  the  gofpel  according  to  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures,  in  oppofition  to  the  many  grofs  corruptiijns 
thereof  at  this  day  in  mod  parts   of  chriftendom  i 

To 

*'  birtiops,  and  prefbyters,  is  hnman.  The  sinhorityof  the 
**  prophets  is  divine,  and  comprehends  the  fum  of  religion, 
*'  reckoning  iMofcs  and  the  apollles  aniongd  the  prcphcis. 
**  And  if  an  angel  J)o?n  heaven  preach  ans  other  gofpel^ 
**  than  what  they  have  delivered,  let  hiiu  be  accurfid.'" 
Sir  I,  Newton's  obfcrvations  on  Daniel, 

— **  The  event  of  things  predifled  many  ages  before,  wilJ 
**  thcB  be  a  convincing  argument  that  iJic  world  is  governed 
**  by  providence.  For  as  the  fcw&  obfcure  prophecies  co«- 
**  cerning  Chrift's  firf}  coming,  were  for  Petting  up  the 
**  chri(iian  religion,  n>^hich  all  nations  have  jtnce  corrupted \ 
**  fo  the  many  and  elf  ar  prophecies  concerning  the  things 
*'  to  be  done  at  Chri(rs  fecond  qoniing,  are  not  only  for 
**  predifling.  bn?  alfa  for  effedin^  a  rccovttiy  and  re-t'f].ib- 
*'  li<limeni  of  the  Icng-hfi  tnifh,  and  felting  upa  kingdom 
**  wherein  dwells   righteoafiicfs." 

NewtQa's  obfeiv.  en  the  -A|>oca}yprc^ 

*  Ifai.  XIV,  26.  27c 


He/ttBims  m  the  Oc'cafion.  ^ 

To  this  end,  I  fay,  let  me  now  clofe  this  long  dif- 
courfe  with  the  words  of  our  blefled  Lord  himfetf 
to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia :  And 
-whofoever  baib  an  ear  to  bear,  let  bim  bear  wbat 
the  Spirit  faith  unto  the  cburches ! — "  Thefe  things 
faith  he  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true,  he  that  hath  the 
key  of  David,  he  that  ©peneth,  and  no  man  fhut- 
tech  ;  and  fhutteth  and  no  man  openeth :  I  know 
thy  works  —  Thou  haft  a  little  ilrength,  and  haft 
kept  MY  WORD,  and  haft  not  denied  my  name.  Be- 
hold, I  will  make  them  of  thefynagogue  of  Satan- 
come  and  worftiip  before  thy  feet,  and  to  know  that 
1  have  loved  thee.  Becaufe  thou  haft  kept  the 
word  of  my  patience,  I  alfo. will  keep  thee  from  the 
hour  of  temptation,  which  fhall  come  upon  all  the 
world,to  try  them  that  dwell  upon  the  earth.  Behold  I 
com.e  quickly  :  hold  that  faft,  which  thou  haft,  thac 
no  man  take  thy  crown.  Him  that  bvercometh  will 
I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he 
fhall  go  no  more  out :  and  1  will  write  upon  him 
the  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name  of  the  city  of 
^Y  God,    the   new   Jerufalem    which   comet^ 

DQ'WN  OUf  Of   HEAVEN  FROM  MY  GoD.  "f^ 
t  Revel.  III.  6 1^. 

The  End. 

CorreSiwns, 
PAGE.       Line.  Read 

I? 5  bottom         multip'y  without  hiiii  ! 

2} 9   top  crawl  to  it. 

2^: 3   hot.  h  carrying  on 

28 3   hot.  judgment  ; 

44 — \ — •       margin  28th  of  April 

48 8  top  intrijTues 

5  T I    top  a  very  fi^nal 

Aifo  in  fb«ic  copies,  page  2«^,  mJi'"gin,  for  DeMU,  read  DivOn 


